Date:22/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/22/stories/2006082207041800.htm

Sport - Tennis

Roddick triumphs

CINCINATTI: Andy Roddick got down on his chest and placed his lips on the blue tennis court that was pockmarked by his latest barrage of aces.

No better moment for his first such kiss.

The 23-year-old American won his first championship in more than a year on Sunday, beating Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-4 at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters to complete his remarkable comeback from injury and futility.

The results:

At Cincinatti (The Cincinatti Masters): Final: Andy Roddick bt Juan-Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-4.

At Montreal (WTA Rogers Cup): Semifinal: Ana Ivanovic bt Dinara Safina 6-1, 6-4.

At New Haven (Pilot Pen International): First round: Men: Stanislas Wawrinka bt Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4; Andreas Seppi bt Bjorn Phau 6-1, 6-1; Nicolas Mahut bt Daniele Bracciali 7-5, 7-6(2); Arnaud Clement bt Florent Serra 6-4, 6-1. Women: Li Na bt Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-2; Tatiana Golovin bt Alicia Molik 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3. — AP