Roddick Cruises and Paszek Grinds to Victory in Eastbourne Finals

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Roddick Cruises and Paszek Grinds to Victory in Eastbourne Finals

By Erik Gudris

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Mike Hewitt

(June 23, 2012) -- Going into the AEGON International event as a last-minute wildcard, Andy Roddick wasn't sure what to expect as he was seeking his first match win since March. But despite a windy week that forced him to play back-to-back matches, Roddick finished as the winner of the men's event.

Taking on defending champion Andreas Seppi whom he had only played once back in New York in 2008, Roddick got off to a nervy start as both men traded early breaks. But Seppi couldn't quite settle into the match and looked bothered by the wind, dropping serve twice to allow Roddick to open up a 5-1 lead. Seppi improved his play a bit, but it wasn't enough to stop Roddick from serving out the set 6-3.

While Seppi, who hit 25 unforced errors in the match, struggled to find his form in the second set, Roddick played some of his best tennis of the week, using his footwork to set up his favored forehand side. Roddick went up an early break for 3-1 and though Seppi had chances to break back, Roddick dug in to force another break of serve. From there the ending was inevitable as Roddick, on his first match point, hit a big serve Seppi couldn't handle to give Roddick a 6-3, 6-2 win and with it his first title of 2012.

Roddick's title in Eastbourne is the 31st of his career and continues his streak of having won at least one title for 12 straight years, an accomplishment that only he and Roger Federer share among all active players.

In the women's final, No. 5 seed Angelique Kerber was seeking her third title of the year as she took on Tamira Paszek, who came back from a set and two breaks down in her semifinal against defending champion Marion Bartoli.

Kerber took the first set 7-5 and looked poised to win the match in straight sets before Paszek broke the German's serve late in the second set to take it 6-3. At 2-all in the final set, Kerber broke Paszek's serve and then jumped out to a 5-2 lead in a game that saw Paszek take a tumble on court and appear to injure her ankle.

At 3-5, Paszek went down 0-40 on her next service game but with some fearless playing, Paszek saved the three match points against her and saved two more before holding serve. Kerber played a horrible game serving for the match at 5-4 as she dropped serve and from there Paszek held for 6-5. Kerber saved two match points as she tried to force a tiebreak, but on Paszek's third match point, Kerber hit long giving Paszek a 5-7, 6-3, 7-5 win.

It's the first title for Paszek, who was 2-11 for the year going into the event. Paszek is scheduled to meet Caroline Wozniacki in the first round of Wimbledon next week.