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Roddick Wins Open, First Grand Slam Final

Posted on: Sunday, 7 September 2003, 06:00 CDT

Andy Roddick overpowered Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3 Sunday to win the U.S. Open and his first Grand Slam final.

It was Roddick's season-leading 19th straight victory, making him 37-2 since teaming with coach Brad Gilbert, Andre Agassi's former mentor, after a first-round exit at the French Open.

Roddick rises to a career-best No. 2 in the rankings, one slot below French Open champion Ferrero, and now leads the tour with six titles in 2003.

The most important one, of course, is the most recent, a championship at the U.S. Open to put alongside the junior title he won at the National Tennis Center only three years ago. Stefan Edberg is the only other person with boys' and men's Open titles.

On Sunday, Roddick pounded three straight big serves to win the first set, drawing a standing ovation from the partisan crowd.

There was no such celebration from Roddick: He tossed aside a ball he had in his pocket, blew on his fingers, and calmly walked to the sideline to sit down.

This is the new Roddick, the more mature Roddick, the major champion Roddick.

The match ended, fittingly, with three straight aces by Roddick, lifting his totals to 23 for the final and 123 for the tournament.

Then he let his emotions flow, crouching at the baseline, covering his face with his hands and fighting tears. He climbed through the courtside photographers' pit and into the stands for congratulatory hugs.

Roddick's 21, and Ferrero's 23, which made for the youngest combined ages of U.S. Open finalists since Pete Sampras beat Andre Agassi in 1990.

Last year, Sampras beat Agassi again for the last of his record 14 Grand Slam titles. Last week, Sampras was honored with an on-court retirement ceremony in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

On that same stage Sunday, Roddick had his coming-out party, demonstrating brilliance with his serve and, more impressively, an ability to hang in there on long rallies with Ferrero, a consummate baseliner who beat Agassi in the semifinals.

Ferrero was out on a practice court in the shadow of the stadium 2 1/2 hours before the final's start, getting some last-chance work on returning serves. To replicate the power Roddick produces, Ferrero's coach told his hitting partner to move up about 3 feet inside the baseline to serve.

During his warmup, meanwhile, Roddick loosened up by using his racket as though it were a baseball bat, taking cuts with a two-handed backhand and trying to hit balls over the fence.

It was like batting practice, and a bemused Ferrero looked on, sipping an energy drink.

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