Andy Roddick gave Mardy Fish a room in his house when they were at high school together in Florida.

And he nearly gave him room in the world's top 20 when he had to save two match points before winning the final of the ATP Masters Series in Cincinnati.

Roddick beat Fish 4-6 7-6 (7/3) 7-6 (7/4) which carries him to the top of the ATP Champions Race for the first time and leaves his old buddy still just outside the 20.

It also gives Roddick 20 wins in the hard court build-up tournaments to next week's US Open, something only his coach Brad Gilbert and Andre Agassi have achieved.

However it was desperately close in the longest final in this tournament for 43 years.

And the Tour's hottest player sometimes looked as though he might be feeling the effects of playing four hard court tournaments in a row, and lacked his usual weight of shot and penetration.

Fish served superbly, volleyed well and often attacked Roddick's less powerful backhand wing.

Fish also looked as relaxed as if he were playing a high school match with Roddick rather than the biggest final of his short career.

And at the end the two men embraced rather than shake hands.

"He said 'Good job'," said Roddick, "And I said that I was proud of him. He said it had been fun and I agreed.

"He has improved so much. He was in control of the match early on. I thought somehow I had to get to the tie-breaker and anything could happen then.

"As he was walking off I felt for him. I knew what he was going through.

"I am tired and I won't pick up a racket for a couple of days. But I want to re-group for New York next week (the US Open).

"My coach had a great summer once and I think he went out in the first round in New York. I don't want that."