American Andy Roddick survived a determined fightback from defending champion Radek Stepanek to win the Brisbane International final on Sunday. Roddick was forced to dig deep after throwing away a substantial second set lead before finally beating the Czech 7-6 7-6 at the Pat Rafter Arena.
Everything looked to be going smoothly for Roddick, playing his first tournament since a knee injury cut short his 2009 season last September. He won the opening set in a tiebreak after all games had gone with serve and opened up a commanding 5-1 lead in the second before he suddenly got the wobbles.
He twice failed to serve out the match as Stepanek forced a second tiebreak then faltered again as he neared the finish line. Roddick made a great start and built a 6-1 lead to have five match points, but he blew the lot before eventually winning 9-7.
"It was weird. I don't think I have squandered a lead where I have been putting in first serves and making approach shots," Roddick said. "And in the breakers it was the same deal. I kept making first serves so that was helping me hold on to the last shred of sanity I had. "But at the end of the day the only thing that will be remembered is the 'w' (win)."
Roddick's hard-earned win provided the world number seven with his 28th career title and his first success Down Under since he won the Australian Open junior title a decade ago.
He said it also gave him a real confidence boost ahead of the first grand slam of 2010, starting in Melbourne on January 18, after his injury layoff. "I certainly don't know if I expected to win my first tournament after a pretty extended lay off. I feel pretty good about it," Roddick said.
Stepanek, who won the inaugural Brisbane title 12 months ago, was also buoyed his performance over the week.
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