Andy Roddick defeats Tomas Berdych for Sony Ericsson title

Andy Roddick’s softest shots made the biggest impact Sunday. He kept Tomas Berdych out of rhythm by hitting delicate backhands, loopy forehands and changeup first serves.

By the ninth game, Berdych was so flummoxed that he lost track of the score.

There was no confusion about the final result: Roddick beat Berdych, 7-5, 6-4, to win the Sony Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne, Fla.

It was Roddick’s fifth title in a Masters 1000 tournament — one level below the Grand Slams — and his first since 2006. The runner-up two weeks ago at Indian Wells, another Masters 1000 event, Roddick has a record of 26-4 this year, best on the men’s tour.

“The last month has been real good for me,” said Roddick, who was seeded sixth. “I’ve played well in the big moments. I’ve been able to have a game plan and execute it, regardless of what kind of shots it takes. So it’s all good. It’s all encouraging.”

Roddick’s slice backhand repeatedly forced the 6-foot-5 Berdych to hit the ball at ankle level, robbing his forehand of power. While searching to find a rhythm with his strokes, Berdych also lost track of the score in the ninth game, lining up to serve from the wrong side.

The match turned two games later, when Roddick reached the first break point of the match. He broke when Berdych hit a forehand out, then held at love to take the first set.

PRO BASKETBALL

Karl might miss first round

Denver Nuggets Coach George Karl might miss the first round of the NBA playoffs as he recovers from cancer treatments.

Karl’s partner, Kim Van Deraa, told the Denver Post that Karl won’t return during the regular season and probably will miss the first round of the playoffs.

“To count out all the playoffs, that’s up to his body,” she said. “Who knows when his return will be? No one knows. He doesn’t even know. I’m sure he’s hoping that if we go on a playoff run, that he can [coach] this season.”

Karl has been fighting throat and neck cancer during the last two months. He has finished radiation treatment and is set to have his final round of chemotherapy on Wednesday.

Van Deraa said Karl, who has lost nearly 25 pounds, struggles to speak and might have to feed himself liquids through a tube for an additional three to six months. She also said that pain medication makes it difficult for him to concentrate for long periods.

MOTOR RACING

Vettel wins in Malaysia

Spurred by the disappointment of mechanical failures that cost him victory in the Formula One season’s first two races, Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel led from start to finish in winning the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang.

After the team’s championship hopes had been written off because of doubts about the reliability of its cars, Red Bull answered in the best possible way — Vettel leading a 1-2 finish ahead of teammate Mark Webber.

Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg was a distant third, with Renault’s Robert Kubica comfortably in fourth place.

HORSE RACING

Jockeys penalized for incident

The jockeys involved in Saturday’s controversy in the Santa Anita Derby, Garrett Gomez and Victor Espinoza, were each penalized by Santa Anita stewards. In the incident in the final turn, Espinoza, on Who’s Up, appeared to impede the progress of Gomez, on race favorite Lookin At Lucky. Lookin At Lucky finished third behind Sidney’s Candy and Setsuko, and stewards left that order of finish untouched. On Sunday, Espinoza was given a three-day suspension effective April 11 for dangerous riding. Gomez was fined $750 for fighting.

— Bill Dwyre