Roddick Uses His Serve to Defend His RCA Title

Andy Roddick used his trademark blistering serve and powerful groundstrokes to overwhelm Nicolas Kiefer, 6-2, 6-3, Sunday and win a second straight RCA Championships title at Indianapolis.

Roddick hit 10 aces, routinely topping 140 mph, and Kiefer couldn’t keep up.

The second-ranked American joined 1991-92 winner Pete Sampras as the only repeat champions since the event switched from clay to hard courts in 1988. Boris Becker is the only other multiple champion on hard courts there.

“I’m the low man on that totem pole,” Roddick said. “It’s pretty humbling.”

He registered three of his aces in the final game, capping the match with a 133-mph offering.

It was a terrific way to begin the hard-court season that will include the Athens Olympics and end at the U.S. Open. Last year, Roddick went 27-1 during the summer circuit, including his first Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows.

“I just couldn’t pick up my game,” Kiefer said. “My return game was not as good. I made it very easy for him.”

The start of the match was delayed about 20 minutes by morning showers and play was held up for 13 minutes when drizzles returned in the first set.

Kiefer has lost his last seven ATP finals since defeating Mark Philippoussis in Hong Kong in October 2000. He’s 0-4 in finals this year, after losses at Scottsdale, Ariz.; Memphis and Los Angeles.

“It sounds very negative, but it’s a positive thing,” Kiefer said. “It’s not easy getting to the finals. I’ve been fighting hard to get back and find my game.”

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Guillermo Canas of Argentina beat Filippo Volandri of Italy, 7-5, 6-3, to win the Croatia Open at Umag.

The sixth-seeded Canas won his fifth career title and second in two weeks.

But he had to come from behind, trailing 5-2 in the first set against the fourth-seeded Volandri.

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Third-seeded Nicolas Massu beat French Open champion Gaston Gaudio, 7-6 (3), 6-4, to win the Generali Open at Kitzbuhel, Austria.

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Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain won her second WTA Tour title by beating Flavia Pennetta of Italy, 6-4, 6-4, at the Palermo International in Sicily.

Pro Football

The St. Louis Rams signed first-round draft pick Steven Jackson to a five-year, $7-million contract.

The deal includes a $4-million signing bonus for Jackson, the 24th overall pick and the first running back taken. He ran for 3,625 yards and 39 touchdowns in three seasons at Oregon State.

Jackson is envisioned as the successor to Marshall Faulk, who is beginning his 12th NFL season.

The 31-year-old Faulk is signed through 2008.

As a senior, Jackson gained 1,545 yards and scored a career-high 19 touchdowns while also establishing himself as a receiving threat for the first time. He had career bests in receptions (44), receiving yards (470) and receiving touchdowns (three).

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The New England Patriots signed draft picks P.K. Sam and Christian Morton and released two other players.

Sam, a wide receiver, was selected in the fifth round out of Florida State.

Morton, a cornerback, was selected in the seventh round out of Illinois.

The Patriots released defensive lineman Ryan Atoe and wide receiver Ricky Bryant.

Olympics

Greek authorities ran an Olympic transportation safety drill in Athens, testing everything from an electronic web of more than 1,000 cameras, sensors and other devices to traffic lanes for buses carrying athletes.

The three-hour drill, code-named “Olympic Hermes,” was held along key roads in the greater Athens area. It involved air and ground police units and checked all forms of public transportation.

Test scenarios included dealing with traffic accidents on Olympic roads with use of a blimp, helicopters and ground units.

The electronic web, connected to a command center with a secure communications network, cost about $300 million, a big portion of these games’ record security budget of more than $1.5 billion.

Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis said in a newspaper interview published Sunday that the security system is fully operational and security forces are ready for the Aug. 13-29 Summer Games.

WNBA

Yolanda Griffith had 20 points and eight rebounds, helping the Sacramento Monarchs to a 71-62 victory over the Indiana Fever in front of 7,621 at Sacramento.

Ruthie Bolton made a three-point shot with 4:54 left to put the Monarchs ahead 57-56. They never trailed again.

Passings

Ben Martin, football coach at the Air Force Academy from 1958 to ‘77, has died. He was 83. Story, B7.