Roddick battles past Sela

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:03

An overwhelming favourite heading into the match, Roddick fired 17 aces to win his third title of the season and 26th of his career. The 26-year-old served 73 aces during the tournament.

Roddick had to work to win the hardcourt event against the 92nd-ranked Sela, who was appearing in his first career final.

Sela beat top seed David Ferrer and sixth seed Tommy Robredo en route to the final.

The American saved three break chances in the second game of the second set but, after breaking Sela to go up 3-2, was broke back by the Israeli on the 23-year-old’s sixth break chance of the game, tying the set at 3-3.

Both players held serve until the tie-break, where Roddick won the eighth point to take a 5-3 lead before Sela fought off one match point and eventually forced a third set.

Roddick had a 3-2 lead when he took control of the final set, breaking Sela in the sixth game to go up 4-2.

The American held his last two serves to put an end to the match just after the two-hour mark.

The loss prevented Sela from becoming the first player from Israel to win an ATP singles title since Amos Mansdorf did so at Washington in 1993.

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