Second seed Andy Roddick kept his Australian Open hopes on track, sending big-serving Briton Greg Rusedski packing with a four-set victory at Rod Laver Arena.

Roddick won the second round clash 6-0 3-6 6-2 6-3 in one hour and 33 minutes.

The American threatened to turn the match into a clinic with a first set demolition of the big-serving Briton, sending a stream of big serves and passing shots thundering past the veteran.

But Rusedski managed to turn around what was looking like one-way traffic in the second set, breaking the world No.2 late and serving it out.

Roddick then re-asserted his dominance in the third set, before opening up an early break in the fourth.

The American now plays Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the third round after Melzer beat Australian Nathan Healey in straight sets earlier on Thursday.

Roddick had two double faults in the service game he lost in the second set - his only two for the match.

It proved only a minor blip.

He served 11 aces for the match and hit the mark with 89 per cent of his first serves, admitting afterwards he was surprised his two double faults proved so costly.

"It was weird because I felt in control of the match and then all of a sudden it was one set all even thought I felt I was playing better," Roddick said.

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