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Roddick sent packing by Serb Tipsarevic

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  • Sixth seed Andy Roddick crashes out after four-set defeat to Janko Tipsarevic
  • Second seed Rafael Nadal given a thorough workout by Latvian Ernests Gulbis
  • Andy Murray keeps British hopes alive by easing past Belgian Xavier Malisse
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(CNN) -- Sixth seed Andy Roddick was another high-profile casualty on the fourth day at Wimbledon, crashing out in the second round of the men's singles to Serb Janko Tipsarevic.

Tipsarevic celebrates defeating Andy Roddick to reach the third round at Wimbledon.

Following the demise of former champion Maria Sharapova in the women's draw earlier in the day, Roddick saw his challenge ended by a 6-7 7-5 6-4 7-6 defeat on Center Court.

The players had met just once before, also at Wimbledon, when Roddick battled back from a set down to see off his opponenet in four sets in a first-round match two years ago.

Tipsarevic was proving just as difficult this time around for the American, who dominated his own service games with his big hitting but at the same time was unable to break down his opponent.

It eventually needed a tie-break to separate the two, with Roddick the first to find the slight edge needed to take a one-set lead.

The stalemate continued into the second set as the two players searched for some kind of opening in a bid to get their noses in front.

But with another tie-break beckoning, it was Tipsarevic who forced -- and took -- the first break point of the match in game 12 to bring himself back on level terms.

The wait for another break proved not as long as the 24-year-old Tipsarevic was gifted the advantage in the fifth game of the third set when Roddick pushed his usually-reliable forehand beyond the baseline. It was the only break he needed to go on and clinch the set and the lead for the first time in the match.

The fourth set was another battle of wills, with Roddick once again proving unbeatable on his own serve, yet wasting numerous break points with some wild shots and poor returns.

And those wasted break points -- eight in total -- came back to haunt him in the tie-break as Tipsarevic edged ahead before clinching the win with a powerful serve Roddick was unable to return.

Tipsarevic, who reached the fourth round last year, will next face 25th-seeded Russian Dmitry Tursunov, who ended the challenge of British qualifier Chris Eaton 7-6 6-2 6-4.

Meanwhile, second seed Rafael Nadal was given a thorough workout by Ernests Gulbis on the way to dispatching the Latvian 5-7 6-2 7-6 6-3 to book his place in the third round of Wimbledon.

The Spaniard predicted that Gulbis would prove a handful and the little-known 19-year-old lived up to expectations by producing a display full of courage and skill.

A booming serve and powerful forehand were his choice shots but there was also plenty of variety to the world number 48's game, marking him out as a star of the future.

Nadal's class and athleticism ultimately enabled him to negotiate a tricky hurdle on Court One and he now meets 27th-seeded German Nicolas Kiefer for a place in the last 16.

"I knew beforehand that it would be a very difficult match. He's a tough player who will be at the top very soon," said Nadal -- who has been runner-up to Roger Federer in the last two finals.

"I served only so-so at the start but it got better as the match went on and I feel that I improved," added the Mallorcan -- who is bidding to become only the third man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season.

Ninth seed James Blake was dumped out of the tournament after a 6-3 6-7 4-6 6-4 6-4 defeat by Rainer Schuettler of Germany -- completing a dismal day for America's leading two players.

Blake has never progressed beyond the third round at the All England Club while Schuettler, ranked 94th in the world, is through to that stage for the first time in his career.

Richard Gasquet's all-French showdown with Sebastien Grosjean ended prematurely with the eighth seed 6-2 6-2 ahead. Grosjean was forced to retire in the third set with a thigh injury.

Czech 16th seed Radek Stepanek was taken to five sets by Serb Viktor Troicki, but rallied strongly to triumph 6-7 6-7 6-3 6-1 6-2.

In other matches, British 12th seed Andy Murray kept home hopes alive by brushing aside Belgium's Xavier Malisse 6-4 6-2 6-2 and now faces Germany's Tommy Haas who put out Spanish 23rd seed Tommy Robredo 6-4 6-4 6-3.

"He's (Haas) a tough player. Serves well, volleys good. He doesn't have too many weaknesses. That's obviously going to be tricky," said Murray.

Another seed to fall was Finland's Jarkko Nieminen -- the 24th seed losing to Croatian Marin Cilic in a marathon five-setter, 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-7 7-5.

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