WASHINGTON, 1 August 2003 — Second seed Andy Roddick used a powerful serve and punishing groundstrokes on Wednesday to overcome an inspired display by fellow American Bob Bryan and advance to the third round of the $600,000 Washington Classic.

Roddick blasted 12 aces and never lost his serve during a 7-6, 6-4 triumph over Bryan, who alongside his brother Mike forms the top doubles team in the world.

“If he takes a couple of months off doubles, the way he played tonight, that’s top-35, top-40 tennis easily,” Roddick told reporters.

Roddick, who now meets Britain’s Greg Rusedski in a repeat of their explosive encounter at Wimbledon last month, has been the top player in service games for two years and showed why against Bryan, who is ranked 129th in the world in singles.

Bryan, however, almost matched his opponent serve-for-serve, also hitting 12 aces and losing his serve only once, in the final game. Bryan, the reigning French Open doubles champion, said: “He plays in the clutch. He’s a fighter. When he needs to, he comes up with the shots.”

Rusedski’s compatriot Tim Henman, the 10th seed, beat Paul Goldstein of the US 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in the last match of the day.

In other second-round action on Wednesday, Thailand’s third-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan defeated Cyril Saulnier of France 6-4, 6-7, 6-1.

Fourth seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile defeated qualifier Julien Benneteau of France 6-2, 6-4 while fifth-seeded Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov knocked out Sweden’s Thomas Enqvist 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. Eighth seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia overcame qualifier Simon Larose of Canada 6-4, 6-3.

Hewitt Serves Up a Storm to Advance in Los Angeles

Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt blasted 14 aces, including five straight to start his serving games, beating American Michael Joyce 6-3, 6-0 on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the $380,000 Los Angeles ATP event.

The 22-year-old Australian was playing for the second straight day against a journeyman American in his first tournament since losing in the opening round at Wimbledon. Hewitt suffered a shocking early exit at this year’s Wimbledon, losing to Croatian qualifier Ivo Karlovic.

Hewitt, the 2002 Wimbledon winner, had one minor letdown in Wednesday’s one hour, 11 minute match when he lost his serve to go 3-3 in the first set.

It was a more polished performance than the spotty play that marked Tuesday’s tournament 6-0, 7-5 win over American Cecil Mamiit. Hewitt will face Denmark’s Kenneth Carlsen in the quarterfinals.

Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer scored the biggest upset of the tournament so far, beating Dutchman Sjeng Schalken 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday.

In other second round matches on Wednesday Carlsen defeated India’s Prakash Amritraj 6-4, 6-2. The 19-year-old Amritraj represents India but is a fan favorite in Los Angeles having been born here. He is the son of two-time Wimbledon and US Open quarterfinalist Vijay Amritraj.

Injury Jinx Hits Capriati, Win for Clijsters

In Carlsbad, California, fifth seed Jennifer Capriati became the latest victim of the Acura Classic injury jinx on Wednesday, retiring with a pectoral strain while trailing 4-1 to Russian Elena Likhovtseva in the second round.

The American was the ninth player to either pull out or retire from the $1 million tournament.

Second seed Kim Clijsters of Belgium, who won last week’s Bank of the West Classic, carried on where she left off at nearby Palo Alto by overpowering Spain’s Virginia Ruano-Pascual 6-2 6-0.

Clijsters now meets French teenager Marion Bartoli in the third round.

Capriati’s retirement was yet another blow for the organizers after injury had already forced out world No. 1 Serena Williams, No. 4 Venus Williams, Russian Vera Zvonareva, Americans Monica Seles, Ashley Harkleroad and Alexandra Stevenson, Natalie Dechy of France and Swiss Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian.

“It’s a long season and, with the grind of the tour, there’s not much time to take a break, let alone recover,” said Capriati.

Seventh seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia had to save a match point before putting out Slovenia’s Katerina Srebotnik 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 while American Lisa Raymond upset eighth seed Ai Sugiyama of Japan 6-0, 2-6, 6-4.

Russia’s Elena Dementieva, the 13th seed, eased out Francesca Schiavone of Italy 7-6, 6-2 but 12th-seeded South African Amanda Coetzer was beaten 6-3 6-3 by Russian Nadia Petrova. Former French and Australian Open champion Mary Pierce of France knocked out 11th-seeded Spaniard Conchita Martinez 6-1, 6-3 while 10th seed Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria trounced Australia’s Alicia Molik 6-1, 6-3.