Taylor Dent admitted his second ATP title felt even sweeter than his first after he won the battle of big-serving Americans to upset top seed Andy Roddick in the final of the Kroger St Jude indoor tournament in Memphis.
The 21-year-old Dent defeated defending champion Roddick 6-1 6-4 in his second final - adding the crown to the one he won at Newport against another American, James Blake, in July last year.
Dent fired 11 aces and won 79% of his service points in his first career meeting with his more-heralded countryman.
He also saved all three break points against while converting three of his four opportunities.
"The title last year [in Newport] was special because I like playing grass court tennis and beating James [Blake] in the final was great. But this was especially nice," said Dent.
"I beat a top five player in the world and really played well, so I have to do that from week to week.
"That first set was a joke. If I could do that every match, it would be something special. My returns were working very well and I backed that up with some great volleys and great second serves again."
"I got down 0-40 [leading 4-3 in the second set] in a hurry so I just took my time and tried to get just one point at least. I think that game saved me the match because he's such a tough competitor and anything can happen.
"I think the fitness work with [my coach] Brad Stine has really paid off this week. My movement around the court has been 10 times better than it has been in the past and that's unbelievable.
"We've been doing cardio work on the bike, which is an absolute nightmare. My reward if I won the tournament was to have a day off from the gym - and to have pizza. I haven't had pizza since Newport probably. I'm having everything on it - except anchovies."
Hoping to claim his sixth title, Roddick hit seven aces but won just 59% of his service points to lose his second straight final.
The 21-year-old from Nebraska, who was playing his first tournament since suffering a wrist injury while advancing to his first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open, admitted Dent deserved the win.
"What didn't he do well?" said Roddick afterwards.
"I hit a second serve at 129 mph he chipped and charged off of it. He hasn't broken into the top 20 yet but it's coming. I think he should definitely be up there.
"He just played well from the first point to the last. I didn't play great by any means but he didn't give me a chance to work my way into it. I hadn't played well all week. I was waiting for someone to step up and he did that."
"Sometimes after injuries you lose your first match back, so it was good to get to the final."
This year's Memphis event marked the 16th all-American final since 1997, and was just the fifth time the final did not include Andre Agassi or Pete Sampras.
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