Roddick sees off stubborn Ancic in five sets

MELBOURNE, Jan 21 (Reuters) Sixth seed Andy Roddick tamed powerful Croatian Mario Ancic 6-3 3-6 6-1 5-7 6-4 to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals today.

The American romped through the first set in 27 minutes but Ancic, seeded ninth, hit back to break Roddick's mighty serve and level the fourth-round match.

Roddick, who beat former champion Marat Safin in the last round, kept his composure to break Ancic twice in the third set but the Croatian rallied in the fourth, which was interrupted by a short rain delay, sealing it with a brilliant lunging forehand.

The fifth set went with serve until the 22-year-old Ancic cracked to push Roddick 3-2 ahead and the former world number one stayed rock solid on his serve to close out victory on his second match point in just over three hours.

Roddick, a semi-finalist at Melbourne Park in 2003 and 2005, will play fellow American Mardy Fish in the last eight.

REUTERS PM KP1058