Roddick beats Berdych for Key Biscayne title

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. - Andy Roddick's softest shots made the biggest impact Sunday. He kept Tomas Berdych out of rhythm by hitting delicate backhands, loopy forehands and changeup first serves.

By the ninth game, Berdych was so flummoxed, he lost track of the score. There was no confusion about the final result: Roddick beat Berdych, 7-5, 6-4, to win the Sony Ericsson Open.

It was Roddick's fifth title in a Masters 1000 tournament - one level below the majors - and his first since 2006. The runner-up two weeks ago at Indian Wells, another Masters 1000 event, Roddick has a record of 26-4 this year, best on the men's tour.

"The last month has been real good for me," Roddick said. "I've played well on the big moments. I've been able to have a game plan and execute it, regardless of what kind of shots it takes. It's all encouraging."

At 27, he's showing he can win with more than just a big serve. He surprised Rafael Nadal in the semifinals by frequently charging to the net.

"A lot of people say the serve is fine and the rest of it's pretty average," Roddick said. "That's all right. But there are a lot of guys with big serves who are pretty average, so there's got to be some difference."

Roddick's slice backhand repeatedly forced the 6-5 Berdych to hit the ball at ankle level, robbing his forehand of power. While searching to find a rhythm with his strokes, Berdych also lost track of the score in the ninth game, lining up to serve from the wrong side.

The match turned two games later, when Roddick reached the first break point of the match. He broke when Berdych hit a forehand out, then held at love to take the first set.

Since hiring Larry Stefanki as his coach in late 2008, Roddick has developed a more well-rounded game. "He could be similar to Andre Agassi, where his best years are from 27 on," Stefanki said.

Roddick's lone major singles title came at the 2003 U.S. Open, and after a series of disappointing defeats in 2008, he wondered if his best days were in the past.

"I honestly didn't know," he said. "But I knew there was a way to find out, and that was to kind of go back to the drawing board and give myself every opportunity to succeed."