Roddick safely through against Udomchoke

LONDON, June 27 (Reuters) Third seed Andy Roddick thundered into the third round of Wimbledon today with a 6-3 6-4 7-6 defeat of Thailand's Danai Udomchoke.

Watched by coach Jimmy Connors on Centre Court, the American slugger was always in charge against a tidy Thai opponent, although he was not totally satisfied with his performance.

''It was an up and down match,'' the 24-year-old told reporters. ''Mentally I was a bit up and down today but, you know, I got through it.'' Roddick is on collision course with four-times defending champion Roger Federer in the semi-final, but his solid start to the tournament offers crumbs of optimism should he meet the player who has twice beaten him in the final.

In the first two sets against world number 114 Danai, Roddick was all hustle and bustle, banging down huge first serves and generally bullying the Thai into submission.

A single break in each set gave Roddick a two-set lead and when he forged ahead in the third set the outcome looked to be a formality. Things then got a little more complicated.

Danai suddenly began to ask tricky questions of the former world number one with some inspired tennis and he managed to stretch out the rallies.

Roddick's serve came to his rescue at 3-2 when he trailed 0-40, but he was pegged back at 4-3 when Danai belted a sublime backhand winner down the line to get back into the set with his first break of the match.

Danai suddenly began to look dangerous but Roddick snuffed out the threat with a solid tiebreak.

Connors, champion here in 1974 and 1982, has called on his charge to become more pro-active in rallies and there are signs that Roddick is developing more weapons on grass.

His backhand slice, in particular, is a much-improved shot, although the 2003 US Open champion knows that there is still room for improvement.

''I'm not the finished product,'' he said. ''But I don't know if I choose the middle of Wimbledon to start working on something. I'm more worried about developing points, it's a lot more with confidence.'' Roddick, one of only three American men to survive the first round, faces Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the third round.

REUTERS CS KP2238