Andy Roddick completed a job he left hanging a few weeks earlier as he defeated Czech Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-4 to win the Miami Masters a fortnight after losing another big match test in the US.
The American winner triumphed at the Masters 1000 level for the first time in nearly four years after claiming his last elite title in 2006 in Cincinnati.
Last month in his previous event, number eight Roddick was beaten in two tiebreak sets in Indian Wells, California, by Croatian Ivan Ljubicic.
“I never faced a break point today, and I was smart with the chipping,” said the winner. “I mixed up the pace and kept him guessing. I held serve and thought I played smart all through this event.”
Berdych was playing his first final in North America and his first on the Masters stage, with the Czech profiting from a recent change of coaches as he defeated Roger Federer in the Miami fourth round.
He was the first from his nation to reach the Miami final since Ivan Lendl won the title in 1989.
Roddick and Berdych duelled in the opening stages, with the Czech claiming the first six points of the afternoon.
The first break point didn’t arrive until the 11th game, with Berdych saving it on his serve. Moments later, Roddick was knocking again, converting for 6-5 as Berdych put a forehand wide.
Roddick quickly sealed the set after 51 minutes a game later, securing the lead with his fifth ace.
The American wasted no time in taking a stranglehold on the second with a break of the fragile Berdych in the opening game.
Berdych saved two match points in the penultimate game but took the loss on a backhand to the net a game later on Roddick’s third winning opportunity after one hour, 23 minutes. Roddick’s victory marked the 29th title of his career.
