The rains stopped at the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati but American Andy Roddick's stellar play did not. After rain affected play most of Wednesday at the $2.2 million hardcourt event, second seed Roddick cruised into the quarterfinals Thursday with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph over No. 15 Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand.
Roddick, the defending champion who is looking to become just the third player to successfully defend his title here, improved to 5-1 lifetime against Srichaphan. Roddick awaits German Tommy Haas, who outlasted Swede Robin Soderling, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, in the final match of the night.
Fourth seed Carlos Moya claimed another quarterfinal berth by outlasting lucky loser Wayne Arthurs of Australia, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (7-5). Moya next faces American Andre Agassi, the 11th seed, who beat No. 17 Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina in the featured night match, 6-3, 6-3. Agassi reached the quarterfinals here for the sixth time. In other third-round results Thursday, No. 14 Marat Safin of Russia edged Croatian qualifier Ivo Karlovic, 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (3-7), 6-4. He next faces No. 10 Lleyton Hewitt, who cruised past fifth seed Tim Henman of Great Britain, 6-1, 6-4. Hewitt improved to 8-0 lifetime agianst Henman.
Also, Fabrice Santoro of France routed Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden, 6-0, 6-3, to set up a quarterfinal matchup with Spaniard Tommy Robredo, who edged British qualifier Greg Rusedski, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-2).