Roddick Roars to Fifth Title, No. 1 on Race; Henin-Hardenne Crushes Russian for Tour-Leading Sixth Title

ATP REVIEW/PREVIEW
Andy Roddick just keeps finding ways to win, Sunday fighting off two match points to defeat countryman Mardy Fish 7-6 in the third to capture the TMS-Cincinnati title, his second consecutive TMS title following Montreal. "He came out and was playing very solid early on, and he served super well," Roddick said. "I was kind of frustrated out there, but I didn't let it take over me. I thought 'Somehow get to a breaker, and anything can happen in a breaker,' so that was my strategy in the second, and I thought I actually started playing a little bit better in the third set." The win propelled A-Rod to No. 1 on the ATP Champions Race, and cemented his status as a favorite going into next week's US Open. The TMS-Cincy is Roddick's fifth title on the year, tying him with Roger Federer. In the doubles final, (2)Bryan/Bryan edged (7)Arthurs/Hanley 7-5, 7-6(5) for their fourth title of the year, shoring up their top standing on the ATP Doubles Team Rankings. "I think we might go today (to King's Island)," said Mike Bryan. "We made a bet if we won this tournament, we might have to go on that sky ride (bungee jump). (Bob) went on it two years ago and I didn't go on it, so maybe it's my turn."

The slim pickin's in action today at Long Island are El Aynaoui vs. (Q)Verdasco, (Q)De Voest vs. (WC)Chang, Acasuso vs. (3)Robredo, (WC)Kiefer vs. Mathieu, Sanchez vs. Beck, and Nieminen vs. Lopez.

WTA REVIEW/PREVIEW
Nice blowout in the Toronto final, with No. 2 seed Justine Henin-Hardenne crushing the dreams of young Russian Lina Krasnoroutskaya 6-1, 6-0. "You know, I probably did not play my best tennis this week, but that is pretty good because it means that I still have many things to learn and to improve," said H-H in a scary statement. "(My) confidence right now, before the US Open, it's very good. I am going to New York to try my best." It is the sixth title of the year for H-H, tying Belgian countrywoman and No. 1 Kim Clijsters. She is now 6-1 in finals for 2003. In the doubles final, (4)Martina Navratilova/Svetlana Kuznetsova came from a set down to beat Maria Vento-Kabchi/Angelique Widjaja for their fourth title of the year. "It's really great to have won here especially since I won't be coming back here and it was a nice way to end the run in Toronto," said Navratilova, who has had enough of power outages, SARS, and bars that close at 11 p.m. "Svetlana played great today, coming up to the net and we both played with a lot of confidence. If we play like this we could go far at the US Open." It was the record 171st doubles title for Navratilova.

In the only main draw result at New Haven Sunday, Anna Pistolesi upset (10)Myskina in three sets. The final round of qualifying was also completed, with six advancing to the main draw in Myriam Casanova (SUI), Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA), Rita Grande (ITA), Tina Pisnik (SLO), Alicia Molik (AUS), and Cara Black (ZIM).

On court Monday at New Haven are Zvonareva vs. Taylor, Shaughnessy vs. Dokic, Casanova vs. Granville, Obata vs. Martinez, Harkleroad vs. Stevenson, Sugiyama vs. Raymond, Bovina vs. Molik, Black vs. Grande, and Pisnik vs. Serna.

2003 SINGLES TITLE LEADERS (through Aug. 17)
6--Kim Clijsters (BEL)
6--Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL)
---------------------
5--Roger Federer (SUI)
5--Andy Roddick (USA)
---------------------
4--Andre Agassi (USA)
4--Guillermo Coria (ARG)
4--Serena Williams (USA)
---------------------
3--Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
3--Carlos Moya (ESP)

2003 DOUBLES TEAM TITLE LEADERS (through Aug. 17)
6--K.Clijsters/A.Sugiyama (BEL/JPN)
-------------------------------
5--M.Knowles/D.Nestor (BAH/CAN)
-------------------------------
4--B.Bryan/M.Bryan (USA)
4--S.Kuznetsova/M.Navratilova (RUS/USA)

WTA NEW HAVEN ON TV (EST)
Wed., Aug. 20, 4-6pm, ESPN2 (tape)
Thu., Aug. 21, 1-3am, ESPN2 (tape)
Thu., Aug. 21, 1-3pm, ESPN2 (live)
Thu., Aug. 21, 10pm-midnight, ESPN2 (tape)
Fri., Aug. 22, 1-3pm, ESPN2 (live)
Fri., Aug. 22, 8-9:30pm, ESPN (live)
Sat., Aug. 23, 1-3pm, CBS (live - final)

NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES, AND BARBS
How good is that "mail order ribs" commercial on ESPN during the TMS-Cincy? Nice...Anyone saying the serve-and-volley is dead needed to watch Mardy Fish and Max Mirnyi at Cincy last week...Venus Williams misses New Haven this week with injury after winning the title the last four years running...U.S. Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe must have been wetting himself in the ESPN booth during the Cincy final, with Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish peaking before the upcoming D-Cup match in September. Will Mardy Fish replace the struggling James Blake at the No. 2 singles spot?...Mark Philippoussis now requires a painful series of synthetic cartilage injections every six months to compensate for the 45 percent of the natural cartilage no longer in his knee...What's with Andy Roddick wearing the Brad Gilbert-style floppy beach hats in interviews? Quit it...James Blake rang the opening bell at the American Stock Exchange in New York this morning at 9:30 a.m...The qualifiers at Long Island over the weekend were Jeff Morrison (USA), Fernando Verdasco (ESP), Rik De Voest (RSA), and Karol Beck (SVK)...Oft-arguing Indian doubles pair Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes are actually playing together this week at Long Island...Andy Roddick has won 30 of 32 matches since teaming with coach Brad Gilbert in June and will take a 12-match winning streak into the first round of the US Open...Mardy Fish did not lose serve in the TMS-Cincy final, and is now 0-3 in finals this year...Andy Roddick becomes just the third player in the past 15 years (his coach Brad Gilbert and Andre Agassi are the others) to amass 20 wins during the U.S. hardcourt season leading into the US Open.