Roddick, Kuznetsova march into last eight

NEW YORK, Sept 4 (Reuters) Former champions Andy Roddick and Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced to the quarter-finals of the US Open in contrasting but straightforward fashion.

Roddick, the 2003 champion, was leading 7-6 2-0 when ninth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych retired with nausea and breathing problems yesterday.

The American said he felt sorry for Berdych but with a possible quarter-final match-up with defending champion Roger Federer looming, he added: ''This is a lot better than being dead tired.'' Fourth seed Kuznetsova needed only 74 minutes to dispose of awe-struck Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-2 6-3 yesterday to reach the Open's last eight for the first time since winning the title in 2004.

''I feel like I'm getting better every match,'' said Kuznetsova, the highest remaining seed in the bottom half of the draw. ''I'm very confident about my game.'' The Russian took the first five games in breezy conditions in the Arthur Ashe Stadium against Azarenka, who made 16 unforced errors in the opening set.

''It was such a big court and playing against Svetlana, I was a little nervous at the beginning,'' said Azarenka, 18, who put out former winner Martina Hingis in the third round.

NO OFFENCE Kuznetsova next plays 18-year-old Agnes Szavay of Hungary, who defeated Ukrainian Julia Vakulenko 6-4 7-6.

One match after knocking out last year's champion Maria Sharapova, 18-year-old Pole Agnieszka Radwanska suffered a 6-4 6-1 fourth-round setback to Israeli Shahar Peer.

''Sometimes I have to lose,'' said Radwanska. ''Anyway, fourth round is good for me.'' In another fourth-round match, sixth seed Russian Anna Chakvetadze had 23 errors during a second-set wobble but defeated Austrian Tamira Paszek 6-1 7-5.

Triple champion Federer was set to play Spain's Feliciano Lopez later on Monday.

''No offence to Lopez, but I'm kind of already preparing for Roger,'' said Roddick, who has lost 13 of 14 matches against the Swiss world number one. ''I'm excited.

''I expect a lot of myself. I don't think anybody else really expects much from me,'' he said with a laugh.

Elsewhere in the men's event, 10th-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany scored a mild upset when he defeated number six American James Blake 4-6 6-4 3-6 6-0 7-6, winning the tiebreaker 7-4.

Also, fourth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko continued his march through the draw with a 6-1 6-3 6-4 triumph over South Korean Lee Hyung-taik.

Davydenko, who will face Haas in the quarters, has not lost a set during his four Open matches.

REUTERS BJR KN0721