Australian Open: Force with Andy Roddick in Jan Hajek hammering

Andy Roddick fired a reminder that he remains a force to be reckoned with by thumping Czech Jan Hajek 6-1 6-2 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday.     

The American, who briefly held the men's number one ranking after winning the 2003 US Open, looked sharp in his Melbourne opener, mixing up his game intelligently to win in an hour and 41 minutes.      

Roddick's battering ram serve produced 18 aces but he frequently frustrated his 96th-ranked opponent with his deep, sliced backhand approach in a performance of real maturity.          

Roddick, barely pausing between points, suffered his only blip while serving for the match at 5-2, fending off two break points before powering over the line behind another fistful of unplayable serves.