Andy Roddick plays Ernests Gulbis in the third round of the Paris Masters on Thursday morning.

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Roddick was relishing the new, faster courts in Paris on Wednesday as he swiftly dispatched Jarkko Nieminen 6-1, 6-4 to reach the last 16. Roddick's chances of qualifying for London are growing with every round though with 1000 points at stake for the winner this week, there's still plenty to play for.

Roddick certainly isn't counting his chickens, saying, “I have a pretty good shot no matter how I do here this week.But I think the last thing you want to do is be in that position where you're at home cheering against somebody hoping that something bad happens to them. You'd like to win it, do it on your own terms, and that's something that I'd certainly like to do."

His second round opponent Ernests Gulbis did him a big favour on Tuesday, putting out London rival Mikhail Youzhny when the Russian retired trailing 6-4, 3-0.

However, Youzhny was clearly far from his best in that encounter and a pumped up Roddick should be a step too far for the Latvian. With the speed of the courts this week, Gulbis' huge serve should keep things close but it will be a surprise if the American drops a set.

Roddick has won both their previous matches on hard courts in 2008 and 2009.