Red-hot Roddick stakes claim for Wimbledon

ANDY RODDICK blew past Sebastien Grosjean yesterday to win the Stella Artois Championship and announce himself as a major contender for the Wimbledon crown.

The American 20-year-old took just an hour to obliterate the Frenchman 6-3 6-3 for his seventh career title and his first on grass.

Roddick, who had equalled Greg Rusedski's world record 149mph serve during his epic semi-final victory over Andre Agassi, troubled the speed gun again and gave Grosjean just one break point opportunity through the entire match.

He hammered down consecutive 146mph and 147mph efforts and even clocked one at 154mph though sadly it rocketed into the net.

Roddick said: "I came here not knowing really where I was and with a lot of changes but titles come when you least expect them. I feel now that I will go into Wimbledon better prepared than I have been and more confident.

"But you have to guard against over-confidence because I was also confident going into the French Open."

Grosjean had played superbly in disposing of reigning champion Lleyton Hewitt and Tim Henman to reach the final but he never got to grips with the Roddick serve.

Roddick seized control of the match from the outset and broke Grosjean in the sixth game of the first set when the Frenchman double-faulted. Grosjean's own solitary break point chance came before Roddick managed to serve out for the set at 6-3.

When the American broke again in the third game of the second set the contest was effectively over. He converted his second match point with a fortunate net cord but luck was the last thing he needed.

Grosjean said he would also go to Wimbledon confident following an encouraging week. He said: "I didn't return well and Andy took his chances on my serve.

"But it has been a good week for me and I have beaten Lleyton and Tim so I'm happy with the way I played. I have no regrets."

Top seed, Conor Taylor showed no ill affects of his three and a half hour semi-final marathon when he beat Colin O'Brien in the Caledonian Life Munster Open championship final at Sunday's Well.

Taylor won in straight sets against the unseeded Colin O'Brien who caused a semi-final upset when he beat last year's winner, Nick Malone,.

There was a surprise in the final of the ladies singles as holder and top seed Elsa O'Riain, of the host club, lost out to fellow Federation Cup player, Karen Nugent from Dublin after three sets.