Roddick advances in Atlanta

Andy Roddick will relive his past — against an opponent he beat for the title in his last appearance at the Atlanta Tennis Championships — after posting a 6-1, 6-7 (1-7), 6-3 victory on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals.

The top seed stumbled badly in the second-set tiebreaker against fellow U.S. player Rajeev Ram before pulling away to the second-round opening victory on the back of 15 aces and three breaks of serve.

The win sets up a showdown with Belgian Xavier Malisse, a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Illya Marchenko of Ukraine.

Australian third seed Lleyton Hewitt was upset by Slovak number 76 Lukas Lacko, who broke the former number one five times in less than 90 minutes to reach the last eight for the fifth time this season.