Djokovic breezes past Roddick into last 16

By Kylie MacLellan

LONDON (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic barely broke sweat to dismiss former grand slam winner Andy Roddick 6-2 6-1 in less than an hour on Tuesday as he continued his quest to better his Beijing bronze medal.

Wimbledon runner-up Andy Murray and three-time Olympic gold medalist Venus Williams also eased through their second round matches under the Centre Court roof.

Second seed Djokovic, already out of the doubles after he and Viktor Troicki lost their opening match to Sweden's Johan Brunstrom and Robert Lindstedt, at one point won seven successive games against his American opponent, sporting stars and stripes trainers.

"Today everything was working perfectly well and I was neutralizing his serve by getting a lot of returns back in the court and serving a lot of aces," said 25-year-old Djokovic.

"You're not playing for yourself like you are most of the time throughout the year. This is one of the unique events, unique opportunities to play for your country and the nation is cheering for you."

Briton Murray, who has played both his singles matches under the Centre Court roof due to rain, made light work of Finland's Jarkko Nieminen to book his place in the last 16, winning 6-2 6-4.

To the delight of the home crowd Murray, whose last match against Nieminen at Wimbledon in 2010 was played in front of the Queen, broke his opponent in the first game and again in the fifth to quickly take a 4-1 lead before wrapping up the set.

Nieminen fought back energetically, saving a match point before going head first over the barriers when chasing a backhand in the next game. Murray, leading 5-4, secured victory with an ace.