TAKE A BOW, MARCOS: Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis has perhaps made the transition from a promising young talent to serious contender with his victory over the second-seeded Andy Roddick. — Photo: AP

Melbourne: Andy Roddick tumbled out of the Australian Open on Sunday, losing 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 to unseeded Marcos Baghdatis in the fourth round.

Roddick, the No. 2 seed, was unsettled by the high-energy Baghdatis, a 20-year-old former junior world champion from Cyprus.

After dropping just one service game in his three previous matches, Roddick was broken once in each of the first, third and fourth sets. Baghdatis had 16 aces, one more than Roddick, and only 26 unforced errors.

"I'm just in my own world and playing great tennis," Baghdatis said. ``I think it is one of the best matches of my life."

Baghdatis, ranked 54th, advanced to a quarterfinal against No. 7 Ivan Ljubicic, who beat 2002 champion Thomas Johansson 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in the last night match.

It was a disappointing exit for Roddick, the American who had a shocking first-round loss in the US Open, the last Grand Slam event.

Roddick had 39 winners and 31 unforced errors. "I think I would have beaten most people today, but credit where it's due, he played a very good match."

Roddick won 117 poins to Baghdatis 116, but converted only two of the nine break point chances while his rival converted three of 10.

With defending champion Marat Safin, second-ranked Rafael Nadal, four-time winner Andre Agassi out because of injuries and No. 3 Lleyton Hewitt ousted in the second round, Roddick was considered the top contender to topple favourite Roger Federer.

But Baghdatis went for everything. Serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth, Baghdatis smacked consecutive forehand winners and had triple match point when Roddick ripped a backhand return into the net.

Cheered on by dozens of supporters dressed in blue and white clothes and waving Greek and Cypriot flags, Baghdatis ended the match with a crosscourt forehand — his 63rd winner.

Sharapova moves up

Fourth seed Maria Sharapova survived her toughest test yet at this year's Australian Open to fight her way into the quarterfinals with a gritty straight-set win over Daniela Hantuchova. Sharapova posted a 6-4, 6-4 victory in 1hr 37 mins to ensure the fiesty Slovak 17th seed, who dumped defending champion Serena Williams from the tournament, did not repeat her giant-killing feat. The Russian was broken in her first service game and said she started the match sluggishly on a hot Melbourne night.

Earlier, top-ranked Lindsay Davenport set up a quarterfinal match with Justine Henin-Hadenne, overcoming left ankle pain to beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2, 6-4. The eighth-seeded Henin Hardenne beat Virginia Juano Pascual 6-0, 6-3. In men's matches, fourth-seeded David Nalbandan reached the quarterfinals, beating Tomy Robredo 6-3, 6-0, 2-6, 6-2, and French veteran Fabice Santoro overcame No. 11 David Ferrer 6-4, 7-5, 7-5. The 33-year-old Santoro reached the last eight at a Grand Slam for the first time in 54 trips.

Henin-Hardenne, the reigning French Open champion and 2004 Australian winner, lost five points on her serve in the first set against Ruano Pascual. Although she finished with 27 unforced errors — 20 in the second set — Henin-Hardenne also hit 28 winners to just one from Ruano Pascual. Heat forced organisers to invoke the extreme heat policy for a third consecutive day, suspending play on outside courts when the temperature exceeded 36C (97F) before noon. All fourth-round singles matches were scheduled under closed roofs at the two arenas. The forecast was for the temperature to rise to 41C (106F). — AP

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