New York, Sep 4 (DPA) Andy Roddick led a seeded men's charge at the US Open with his fourth-straight success against Frenchman Marc Gicquel.

Fifth-seeded Roddick Thursday paced rivals, including number four Novak Djokovic, eighth seed Nikolay Davydenko, number 10 Fernando Verdasco and French Open finalist Robin Soderling, none of whom dropped a set on the day.

Roddick crushed Gicquel 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 to maintain a perfect 4-0 record in the series. The 2003 champion has never allowed Gicquel even the luxury of a break of serve over those four matches.

Davydenko beat Jan Hernych 6-4, 6-1, 6-2, Verdasco put out Florent Serra 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 and Soderling spent just 16 minutes and 17 points before Marcel Granollers retired injured in their second-round match.

'He played more aggressive when he got down,' Roddick said of Gicquels' torrid final game when he saved two match points. 'I was nervous in the last game but glad I was able to pull it out.'

Djokovic stayed in control against Australian Ball, the number 155 playing in his fourth major after winning his first match this week.

Fellow Americans joined Roddick in advancing with journeyman Jesse Witten, who almost gave up the game earlier this year, advancing over Argentine Maximo Gonzalez 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 and Sam Querrey beating Kevin Kim 7-5, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-4.

Another young gun, John Isner, put out Turkish qualifier Marsel Ilhan 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1).

Swiss Marco Chiudinelli joined compatriot Roger Federer in the third round as he put out Russian Mikhail Youzhny 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 6-3.

Women's number one Dinara Safina barely survived as her fellow seeds crashed out, the competition proving to be a minefield for Elena Dementieva and Jelena Jankovic.