Tennis: Roddick wins second title in three weeks
By ALFRED de MONTESQUIOU
Associated Press Writer
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Andy Roddick won his second title in three weeks by rallying past Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-2 in the Dubai Tennis Championship final today.
"The whole time, I felt I was playing well," Roddick said. "The biggest thing this week was the way I played my forehand."
Roddick, who ousted second-ranked Rafael Nadal and third-ranked Novak Djokovic on his way to the final, has used his overpowering serve to dominate opponents throughout the tournament, not dropping a single service break.
He met his match in the final, however, as Lopez served 24 aces to Roddick's 22.
Roddick failed to convert a set point in the first tiebreaker, but kept pressure on his opponent with powerful forehands and sliced backhands.
He finally broke Lopez to take a 5-4 lead in the second set, and then again in the opening game of the third.