Roddick sees off Rusedski

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British number two Greg Rusedski bowed out of the Australian Open in the second round despite a resilient display against Andy Roddick.

The world number two was in superb form as he triumphed 6-0 3-6 6-2 6-3 to set up a match with Austrian Jurgen Melzer.

The American played near-perfect tennis in the opening set as he was barely challenged by his rival.

But Rusedski broke in the eighth game of the second set, which he eventually won, before Roddick hit back again.

The Briton had looked on course for an embarrassing whitewash as Roddick played some of his best-ever tennis from the outset.

At one stage in the first set the American won 16 consecutive points, as Rusedski looked at a loss how to respond.

He was the much better player - I tried my best but it wasn't good enough today Greg Rusedski

Roddick maintained his high tempo of big serving and hefty groundstrokes in the second set. But, despite already being a set down, Rusedski stuck to his serve-volley game which eventually paid dividends.

He rarely looked troubled on his serve and then in the eighth game he smacked two unreturnable groundstrokes to put himself in an unlikely 5-3 lead.

He then comfortably rounded off the set to briefly stun the crowd at Melbourne Park.

The 31-year-old could consider himself unlucky in the third set when Roddick, already 3-2 up, twice hit the net-cord to deny the Briton two easy volleys.

That left the 22-year-old Roddick with two break points, which he snatched at the second opportunity when Rusedski mis-timed a backhand slice.

I never never expected a match like that against Greg who makes it extremely uncomfortable Andy Roddick

That took the sting out of Rusedski's game and he rarely looked like getting back into the set before being broken once more to lose it 6-2.

Worse was to follow in the fourth, and what proved to be final, set as Roddick broke his opponent's first service game.

Not even a brief toilet break could help Rusedski turn his fortunes around as Roddick continued to dominate and rounded off the match.

Rusedski admitted afterward: "I didn't play as well I would like and Andy played very well. My best wasn't good enough."

Currently considering his Davis Cup future, he added: "I want to get back into the world top 20 and I've got six months with no points to defend.

"I just have to play to a better standard than today."