TENNIS Roddick beats Fish in Cincinnati event

He lost the first set before winning the Cincinnati Masters.
MASON (AP) -- Seventh-seeded Andy Roddick rallied after losing the first set to beat Mardy Fish 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4) and win the Cincinnati Masters on Sunday.
Roddick had not lost a set all week. After dropping the first set against Fish, Roddick survived two tie-breakers to win the $400,000 first prize. It was the longest final in terms of games in a Cincinnati-based pro event since 1960.
Roddick, who had beaten Fish in a quarterfinal match at Washington, said he expected a tough match.
"He came out and was playing very solid," Roddick said. "He has improved so much. Look at the players he's beaten this week. He's playing ball, and I knew that. I was expecting a battle."
Improves to 20-1
On the U.S. hard courts this summer, Roddick is 20-1. Roddick remains one of the favorites to win the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 25, five days before his 21st birthday. He has never won a Grand Slam event.
"Everything that happened this summer is out the door when you enter a Grand Slam," Roddick said.
Fish stayed at Roddick's house in Florida when both were juniors in high school, and the two became friends.
Fish, became the first unseeded player to make the final here since Chris Lewis in 1981, was aggressive from the start and held two match points on Roddick in the 10th game of the third set.
Roddick fought off the first with a near ace Fish just touched with his racket.
Two points later, Fish missed with a forehand that was just wide. Roddick went on to win that game, tying the set at 5.
"I was trying to put the ball on the court," Roddick said. "I was really fishing out there. I was trying to find something I could go to."
In the final tie-breaker, Roddick broke to 3-2 with a passing shot and Fish never recovered.
Difficult loss
Fish said losing despite having two match points on Roddick in the third set was difficult.
"It will take a little time to get over this. I'm sure I'll look back on this [with pride] once I get over the two match points," Fish said. "It means I made the finals of a tournament. It was the biggest match of my life, but a loss is a loss. Hopefully, this won't be my last final of a big tournament like this."
Roddick began the year losing in the semifinals of the Australian Open and later lost in the semifinals at Wimbledon.
Bob and Mike Bryan won the doubles competition, beating Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley 7-5, 7-6 (5).