Andy Roddick and Ernests Gulbis may share the same birthday but only one got to take home the prize early Saturday morning.

Roddick, who turned 26 Saturday, won the battle of the US Open birthday boys, rallying to beat the younger Gulbis 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 7-5 in the second-round match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"He was definitely out-playing me for the first two sets," Roddick said. "I felt like a little kid out here playing against him.

"Then the clock struck 12 and I felt a lot better playing out here as a 26 year old.

The hard-serving Gulbis, who is six years younger, matched Roddick serve-for-serve, hammering 19 aces to Roddick's 21. But he had nine double faults and made 56 unforced errors to Roddick's 42 unforced errors in the two hour, 52 minute match.

Roddick, whose lone Grand Slam title came at Flushing Meadows in 2003, is hoping that his decision to skip the Beijing Games to get ready for the final Grand Slam of the year will pay dividends. Asked if he is ready to win another Grand Slam title Roddick said, "I've been off for a while but I'm going to get better with every match I play. If this crowd comes with me, who knows?"

Eighth-seeded Roddick moves through to the third round where he will play unseeded Andreas Seppi of Italy.