SAN JOSE, California, 17 February 2004 — Top seed Andy Roddick overcame high school teammate Mardy Fish 7-6, 6-4 to win his first San Jose Open title on Sunday.

In a spectacular match between two close friends, both players served well and came up with big shots again and again but it was the US Open champion who produced the goods when it mattered most.

“It was pretty intense out there,” Roddick told reporters. “We just know what each other’s going to do.

“That was evident. I found myself going against myself instinctively because he knows what I would do instinctively.”

Roddick saved four set points in a long first set tiebreak when it appeared the pumped-up Fish was about to seize control of the match. The tiebreak was finally won 15-13 by Roddick when he kicked a 119 mph serve into Fish’s backhand and followed up with a forehand volley winner. In the second set, Roddick, 21, needed five break points before producing the first service break of the match at 4-4 and then served out for victory.

Roddick delivered 16 aces against 17 by Fish. “I got a little tired,” said Fish, who lived at Roddick’s house when the pair attended high school in Boca Raton, Florida.

Fish, who played two matches on Saturday and won the doubles title with James Blake on Sunday, added: “My legs started to feel it a little bit. “The first set was long and we were playing some good points. My serve just started to go.”

The title was Roddick’s first since he won the US Open in September.

The American will now leapfrog Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero into second place in the ATP rankings when they are released yesterday. Roddick is hoping to dominate the US winter and spring hardcourt season and wants to put pressure on world number one Roger Federer of Switzerland, who is approximately 700 points ahead in the rankings.

“I don’t know if I’m capable of it but if I was capable of a big summer run (last year), why not switch in to spring?,” said Roddick, who was undefeated in the 2003 US summer hardcourt season, winning four titles.

“It’s tough to get back to that level but I feel I’m hitting the ball well, I’m serving well and I feel I’m pretty tough to beat.”