Andy Roddick began his preparation for next
month's US Open with a straight-sets victory in the final of the RCA
Championships in Indianapolis.
The American top seed defeated second seed Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand 7-6
(7/2) 6-4 to win his third title of the year.
But it was his first in the United States since the US Men's Clay Court
Championship in May 2001 although six of his eight career tournament wins have
come on American soil.
Roddick fired 16 aces with a serve that reached 135 miles per hour and got
fired up on court.
He screamed and smacked a ball out of the stadium when a sponsorship sign fell
and interrupted a rally and argued with the chair umpire on an overruled serve
by Srichaphan later in the set.
But Roddick won the first-set tie-breaker comfortably and gained the only
break he needed in the second set, taking Srichaphan's third service game.
He finished with a 37-12 advantage in winners while raising his record against
Srichaphan to 3-1.
Roddick said: "We were both serving pretty well; the wind was bothering us
both a bit on our returns.
"It was good to get through the tie-break and get that break in the second
set.
"It was great to win here in Indianapolis. It's a great way to start the hard
court season. I look forward to coming back here next year."
Srichaphan said: "Andy was changing it up a little bit, coming into the net
to try to end the point.
"I was serving well - I only got broken one time but he took advantage of
that."
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