| U.S. Teen Roddick Captures First ATP Title Andy Roddick made his ATP clay court debut at the Verizon Tennis Challenge a memorable one as he defeated 20-year-old Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-2, 6-4 in the youngest ATP final of the season The 18-year-old Roddick finished the tournament by winning 42 consecutive games on his serve and 49 of 51 overall as he became the youngest ATP winner this season. The only match Roddick struggled in was his first round three-set win over Raemon Sluiter. After that, he played flawlessly, saving three break points over his next four matches in wins over No. 2 seed Todd Martin, '99 Roland Garros semifinalist Fernando Meligeni, '99 Atlanta champion Stefan Koubek and Malisse. "I'm glad I got to win it here with my brother John (assistant coach at the University of Georgia) and my parents watching on," said Roddick, who became the first American teenager to win an ATP title since 19-year-old Michael Chang won San Francisco in February 1992. "That makes it that much better. I can look back at the tournament and say I played consistent tennis throughout the week." Roddick is the fifth first-time ATP singles winner this season and the sixth player to win a singles and doubles title during the 2001 campaign. Roddick climbs from 71st to 32nd position in the ATP Champions Race 2001. Roddick: "I concentrate on what I have to do." Malisse, who was working with former Tim Henman coach David Felgate for the first tournament, was appearing in his fourth career ATP final, the second this year. "I started slowly in the beginning and he served very big," said Malisse. "You have to give it to Andy and I take my hat off to him. His serve is more consistent and his game has improved a lot in the last six to seven months." In doubles, the fourth-seeded team of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes made a successful Atlanta debut in the Verizon Tennis Challenge by defeating top-seeded Rick Leach and David Macpherson 6-3, 7-6(7), in the final. Bhupathi and Paes did not drop a set throughout the tournament and they captured their first title together since last October when they won in Tokyo. It was also their 17th career title together. Leach and Macpherson were appearing in their first final of the year together. Leach, who won last year's title (w/E. Ferreira), was trying to extend his streak of having won a doubles title every year since 1987. |