Goran Ivanisevic signalled his comeback in emphatic style powering past American hope Andy Roddick into round four.

The big-serving Croatian, three times a runner-up at Wimbledon, proved another final may be within his reach with his best display for more than 12 months.

He will now play Greg Rusedski, a fellow left-hander who he has beaten in all eight meetings in the past.

Ivanisevic hit 39 aces, including one to win the match.

The 29-year-old celebrated by stripping off his shirt and flexing his muscles for the roaring court one crowd.

Rolling back the years

Roddick put in a spirited effort, pulling a set back having lost the first two.

But he failed to hold his serve towards the end of the fourth set and Ivanisevic stepped up to thunder down three aces and clinch the match.

Though Roddick is only 18 years old and on his first visit to Wimbledon, he was favoured to beat the ageing left-hander.

But showing the kind of form which took him to three Wimbledon finals, in 1992, 1994 and 1998, Ivanisevic blasted past the young pretender.

The Croatian who ranked as high as number two in the world in 1994, is only playing this year having been handed a wild card.

Last season he slipped to his lowest level since 1988, finishing the year only four places inside the top 100, because of a long-standing shoulder problem.