Roddick Stops Isner, Wins 3rd Title In Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Andy Roddick put a stop to John Isner's dream week by beating the unseeded American 6-4, 7-6 (4) Sunday to win his third Legg Mason Tennis Classic title.<br/><br/>Roddick, who also

Sunday, August 5th 2007, 4:28 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Andy Roddick put a stop to John Isner's dream week by beating the unseeded American 6-4, 7-6 (4) Sunday to win his third Legg Mason Tennis Classic title.

Roddick, who also won here in 2001 and 2005, won his 23rd ATP title by solving Isner's serve, which had carried him to five straight wins in third-set tiebreakers.

It was the second straight day Roddick had to face a powerful serve from a taller player. The 6-foot-9 Isner aced Roddick 12 times, seven fewer than 6-10 Ivo Karlovic had against Roddick in the semifinals.

Coming into the final, Isner had spent nearly six hours more on the court this week than Roddick, and that appeared to catch up with him in the final.

Roddick broke Isner at-love to take a 4-3 lead and eventually win the first set. The anticipated tiebreaker came in the second set.

Serving at 4-all, Isner hit an overhead into the bottom of the net from just inches away, costing him the first point of a game in which he'd have to save two breakpoints.

The only point Isner lost on his serve in the tiebreaker was when a backhand half-volley went long to give Roddick a 3-1 lead. Roddick hit a crosscourt forehand to close out the match and earn $74,250.

Isner finished the tournament 7-4 in tiebreakers, including his wins over Tim Henman, Benjamin Becker, Wayne Odesnik, Tommy Haas and Gael Monfils.

Isner only had one breakpoint chance in the match, with Roddick serving at 1-2 in first set. However, Roddick came up with a forehand winner and later held for 2-all.

Despite the loss Sunday, a lot has changed in a week for Isner. In addition to taking home $43,700 in prize money, he will jump from No. 416 to inside the top 200 in next week's rankings and has been granted a wild card into Cincinnati in two weeks.