MASON - August 20, 2006 - Andy Roddick celebrated his first title of the year and his second Western & Southern Financial Group Masters championship in style. After firing a 131 mph ace on match point, Roddick kneeled to the ground, kissed the court and took a lap to start the victory party with his new 10,000 friends on center court.
Roddick, who was appearing in his third final in four years in Cincinnati, took down Ferrero 6-3, 6-4 in 70 minutes Sunday afternoon. In the battle of former World No.1s, Roddick, the No.9 seed, dominated the match from the onset, blasting 17 aces and breaking Ferrero four times in seven attempts. The 23-year-old Roddick looked to have the match in the bag when he lead 4-0 in the second set before Ferrero even got on the board.
The win marks Roddick’s 21st career title and his first championship since Lyon in 2005. Roddick improves his 2006 record to 38-13 and has clinched the U.S. Open Series for the second consecutive year. He ties former coach Brad Gilbert for the No.9 spot with 24 wins in Cincinnati. Of Roddick’s four ATP Masters Series titles, two have come in Cincinnati (2003 and 2006).
“I’ve gotten amazing crowd support here over the years, and this year I especially needed it,” said Roddick after the match. “I don't know if I--with the exception of my first round--I don't know if I saw an open seat. It seems like the people really enjoy the tennis here. They're passionate about it. It's kind of a fun event. So, you know, for me personally, it's, like I said, up there with my favorite places.”
Roddick, who has struggled in 2006, seems to have reclaimed some of the form that saw him finish 2003 as the World No.1. He’s won 16 of his last 19 matches and appears to have shrugged off a left side injury he suffered in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago.
“Well, this week I'm pretty satisfied,” said Roddick, who has now won at least one title in the last six years. “I'd like to maintain it. I still feel, you know, I'm nitpicking, but you can always cut down errors a little bit. But I was pretty happy with my form this week.”
En route to the championship match, Roddick survived a first-round scare by Daniele Bracciali, but then went on to cruise past Kristof Vliegen, Juan Ignacio Chela, fast-rising Brit Andy Murray, and No.13 seed Fernando Gonzalez. Ferrero fended off three Top 10 players, including No.5 ranked James Blake in the second round, No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals, and No.7 Tommy Robredo in the semifinals, to appear in only his second final on U.S. soil (2003 U.S. Open).
Ferrero was looking to become the first unseeded player to win in Cincinnati since 1960 when Miguel Olvera of Ecuador won the title. Ferrero, who said he “played good, but not good enough” during the final, will take many positives into the U.S. Open.
“I take everything,” said Ferrero, the 2003 U.S. Open finalist (l. to Roddick). “I take the matches that I play. I take the guys that I beat. I take the level that I leave from this tournament. I think I go with a lot of confidence to New York.”
Roddick, who will jump back into the Top 10, receives 500 INDESIT ATP Ranking points and $400,000 for the win, while runner-up Ferrero captures 350 points and $200,000, and will be back in the Top 20.
