Roddick eyes U.S. Open title after Masters win

By Simon Cambers

CINCINNATI, Aug 20 - A confident Andy Roddick said he believed he was ready for another crack at the U.S. Open title later this month after romping to the Cincinnati Masters Series title on Sunday.

The former world number one beat Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3 6-4 to win his first title of the year, a victory which means he will return to the world's top 10 when the new rankings list is released on Monday.

Beaten in the early rounds at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, Roddick admitted he had questioned himself in the face of criticism of his game.

But after hammering 17 aces in his win over Ferrero, the American was brimming with confidence as he looked for a repeat of his 2003 U.S. Open title. World number one Roger Federer was still in his mind, though.

"I am going to play well (in New York), that much I know," Roddick said. "I like my chances as much as anyone not named Roger right now. I feel like I'm playing as well as anyone going into the Open."

Roddick said he had felt his game clicking back into shape earlier in the summer.

"I actually feel like I turned it around in Indianapolis about a month ago and then I got set back with my (rib) injury, so I couldn't play for two and a half weeks," he added.

"But I prepared a lot last week. I couldn't serve, but I was training from the baseline. Jimmy (Connors, his coach) was in Austin with me. I started hitting the ball real well then, so I felt prepared for this event."

Roddick, who teamed up with Connors at Wimbledon in June, said he was enjoying working with the former world number one.

"(The idea of Connors as coach) intrigued me. I had a list of names and I saw his name and it kind of just stuck out, it excited me," he said.

Roddick's backhand was particularly effective all week and the ninth seed said he and Connors had been working on it.

"We kind of retooled it and started from the basics. The technique is a little bit different. I feel a little bit more relaxed when I'm hitting it. So he's definitely a huge influence on that," he said.

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index