Roddick picks up needed victory

Andy Roddick arrived at the SAP Open last week not knowing where his game was because he had played so sparingly this season.

He left San Jose with this third title at this event and confidence that he can get on a roll following a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Radek Stepanek in the tournament final Sunday in San Jose.

“You want to build on this and use it,” Roddick said.

Roddick had played only four competitive matches since winning the Davis Cup late last season, losing in the third round of the Australian Open and winning his only match in this month’s Davis Cup tie against Austria.

Roddick is stressing this stretch of the season and has accepted a wild-card entry to play in Memphis, Tenn., this week in order to get more work.

“It was important for me to come here and play well because I didn’t have a good result in Australia and I hadn’t really played much tennis this year so far,” Roddick said. “This year might have been more important than other years.”

The top-seeded Roddick never even faced a break point in the final as Stepanek had no answer for his booming serve. Roddick closed out each set with an ace to win the 24th title of his career.

Roddick finished with 13 aces and lost only 13 points in his 11 service games. He was pushed to deuce only once, at 5-4 in the opening set.

In the doubles final, top-seeded Bob and Mike Bryan lost to Scott Lipsky and David Martin, 7-6 (4), 7-5, in a matchup of former Stanford standouts. It was Lipsky and Martin’s first title.

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Maria Sharapova defeated Vera Zvonareva, 6-1, 2-6, 6-0, in the Qatar Open final in Doha, remaining unbeaten this season (14-0) and earning the 18th title of her career.

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David Nalbandian earned the eighth title of his career, rallying to defeat Jose Acasuso, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, at the Copa Telmex final in Buenos Aires. . . . Michael Llodra won his third title, beating Robin Soderling, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7-6 (4), in the ABN Amro final in Rotterdam, Netherlands. . . . Qualifier Nuria Llagostera Vives won her second WTA Tour title, defeating Maria Emilia Salerni, 6-0, 6-4, in Colombia.

GOLF

Gay finally wins in 293rd PGA start

Brian Gay won the Mayakoba Golf Classic for his first PGA Tour title, shooting a one-under 69 for a two-stroke victory in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.

Gay, making his 293rd start, came into the final round with a five-stroke lead and was hardly threatened in finishing at 16-under 264. Steve Marino finished second.

PRO FOOTBALL

Smith joins Chargers after release by 49ers

Linebacker Derek Smith, released Tuesday by the San Francisco 49ers, agreed to a two-year deal with the San Diego Chargers and was reunited with Coach Norv Turner.

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The Chicago Bears and tight end Desmond Clark agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2010.

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Minnesota Vikings tackle Bryant McKinnie was arrested for aggravated battery after a street brawl outside a nightclub early Sunday in Miami.

McKinnie also was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence, according to a police report.

AUTO RACING

Dixon earns 42nd top-fuel victory

Larry Dixon raced to his first top-fuel victory of the season and 42nd overall, beating Dave Grubnic in the final of the Checker Schuck’s Kragen NHRA Nationals at Firebird International Raceway in Chandler, Ariz.

Jack Beckman and V. Gaines also won their divisions in the second NHRA Powerade Drag Racing Series event of the season.

Dixon drove his dragster to a 4.532-second, 327.19-mph victory over Grubnic to tie Tony Schumacher for ninth place on the NHRA career victory list.

Beckman drove his Dodge Charger R/T to a 4.868-second run at 320.20 mph to edge Robert Hight for his fourth career funny car win.

In pro stock, Gaines grabbed his first win in seven years, driving his Dodge Stratus to a 6.702 at 205.38 against Jason Line.