Roddick Wins US Open on Birthday

Would you love to spend your birthday celebrating with 25,000 spectators at Arthur Ashe Stadium? What about adding to that celebration a win at the U.S. Open? Well, that's how Andy Roddick celebrated his 26th birthday; by beating Latvian Ernests Gulbis last night. Ernests also celebrated his 20th birthday last night.

``He made me feel like a kid in the first two sets,'' Roddick said in an interview after the match. ``Then the clock struck 12 and I started to play like a 26-year-old again.''

``It was a real experience playing in front of such a big crowd on my birthday,'' Gulbis said after the match. ``I was proud the way I played.''

Roddick grew frustrated in the first set and the start of the second, smashing his racket, shaking his head, and talking to himself, as Gulbis hit winners from the baseline.

Roddick then turned the match around with his serve and fierce ground strokes.

``I've been off a lot, but I'm going to get there,'' Roddick said. He had been challenged by an injury to his shoulder earlier in the season.

Roddick defeated Gulbis 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 7-5 during a rainy match that went on to finish at 1:35 a.m. local time.