By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Andy Roddick sends a forehand toward James Blake Thursday in his round-of-16 victory. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

MASON - James Blake looks every bit the future of tennis, an attractive and impressive talent on the cusp of the top 20.

But in Andy Roddick, 32 months Blake's junior, the future is now.

Roddick continued his super summer by beating Blake 7-6 (2), 6-2 in a marquee matchup Thursday night at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters. Blake, playing his finest but still losing, was moved to suggest Roddick has become the game's top player.

"I really don't see anyone in the world better than him," Blake said. "I feel like I've improved a lot, but he's going at a quicker pace.

"He's only 20 years old? You can assume he's going to get better. It's a little scary."

Roddick is 27-2 since changing coaches to Brad Gilbert after the French Open, and has won 31 of his last 34 matches overall. He's trying to win his second consecutive tournament and fourth in the last six events.

Roddick, who's ranked No. 4 in the world and stands fifth in the season-long ATP Champions Race, will move to No. 1 in the race if he wins this tournament.

Pundits are starting to dump Andre Agassi and favor Roddick instead for the U.S. Open title.

"I'm maybe one of the favorites for the U.S. Open, and I can definitely imagine myself winning a Grand Slam now," Roddick said, "whereas a couple months ago, maybe not."

Roddick advances to meet Mariano Zabaleta in a quarterfinal at approximately 3 p.m. today.

He is one of three Americans alive in the draw, joining Robby Ginepri and Mardy Fish. Though all three remaining seeds won Thursday - Roddick, Guillermo Coria and Rainer Schuettler - this is still the fewest number of seeded players in the quarterfinals since 1977.

Roddick has won all seven meetings with Blake, but in a sense, this was the most impressive. For Blake threw haymakers, and Roddick ducked long enough to get his game together and deliver a knockout punch.

Blake totaled 25 winners and just 14 unforced errors - including a stunning 20 winners in the first set.

"He played flawless tennis," Roddick said. "If you can beat someone who's plus-10 in winners to unforced errors, in straight sets, you've done something."

At 2-2 in the first set, Roddick had to save three break points. Blake, meanwhile, won 25 of his first 30 service points in the set, slamming eight aces without a double fault.

As Roddick described it, he was just hanging on and hoping to reach a tiebreak. There, Blake stumbled, losing his final three service points in the tiebreak.

Serving the opening game of the second set, Blake blew an easy forehand volley to give Roddick a break point. Then Blake hit a ball he thought hit the baseline, and was called that way by the line judge, but chair umpire Norm Chryst overruled and called it out.

Blake argued, and would argue another call later in the set. But Roddick has won 91 percent of his service games this year, so with one service break the match was pretty much over.

Blake, ranked No. 27, is struggling as he continues trying to crack the top 20 for the first time.

He went 36-24 last year, winning his first tournament and reaching the finals of two others. Yet this year hasn't been an improvement; he's 25-20 with just one semifinal appearance.

Despite a good week here, Blake has still won just eight of his last 19 matches.

"Put the blame on me," Blake said. "I take full responsibility for the way I've played this summer."

Roddick is in the quarterfinals here for the second consecutive year and is trying to win Tennis Masters Series titles in back-to-back weeks.

E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com