By Miles Evans
PARIS (Reuters) - Russian qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili swatted sixth seed Andy Roddick aside 6-4 6-4 6-2 in the third round of the French Open on Saturday as the American let his temper get the better of him.
Roddick angrily threw his rackets toward his entourage after being broken in game seven of the opening set and never gained a foothold in the match as Gabashvili booked his place in the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time.
The signs were ominous for the former U.S. Open champion, never past the fourth round here, when he cracked a racket as he flung it to the ground at 0-40 3-3 in the opening set.
Gabashvili broke with a delightful drop shot on the next point and when Roddick returned to his chair he furiously pulled out his selection of rackets, hurled them toward his coaching team and barked string tension instructions at them.
The puzzled ballgirl picked up the rackets and handed them to Roddick's party, and the American would then never settle throughout a match played in cool, overcast conditions on Court Suzanne Lenglen.
Gabashvili always looked the most likely winner in the lengthier exchanges with single breaks enough for him to surge into a two set-lead over Roddick who engaged in irritable exchanges with the umpire throughout.
Gabashvili, who is still to lose a set here this week, battered Roddick with 58 winners and comfortably returned the American's big serve despite his 72 percent first service rate.
The world number 114 then broke Roddick twice for a 4-0 lead in the third and held on with ease, sealing victory in an hour and 54 minutes with another forehand winner.
Gabashvili now faces Spanish ninth seed David Ferrer or Austria's Jurgen Melzer, seeded 22, for a place in the Roland Garros quarter-finals.
(Editing by Martyn Herman)
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