Juan Martin del Potro became the first man since Andre Agassi in 1999 to win back-to-back titles at the ATP Washington Classic, rallying to defeat Andy Roddick 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) in Sunday's final. Argentine second seed Del Potro fired the last five of his 19 aces in the tie-breaker and made his first career title defense on his fourth match point when a line call review confirmed that his forehand winner caught the line. Del Potro, 20, withstood hot and muggy conditions to capture his sixth ATP title, his second of the season after Auckland in January and a $300,000 top prize. US top seed Roddick, in his first event since a five-set Wimbledon final loss to Roger Federer, fired 21 aces but failed to claim his fourth Washington title and 28th career crown at the $1.4 million hardcourt event. On Saturday Roddick overcoming a 20-ace barrage to oust fellow American John Isner 6-7, 6-2, 7-5 in the semifinals. Del Potro made the final by wearing down Chile's Fernando Gonzalez 7-6, 6-3. Pennetta stuns Sharapova Italy's Flavia Pennetta stunned former world number one Maria Sharapova 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the semifinals of the LA Championships Saturday. Pennetta, the 10th seed, will meet Samantha Stosur in the final after the Australian used her big serve to overwhelm Romanian teenager Sorana Cirstea 6-3, 6-2. Playing her eighth match in the 12 days, three-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova clearly lacked energy as the match wore on and squandered a 3-1 lead in the third set thanks to a litany of double faults and sloppy errors. “I didn't feel fresh,” said Sharapova, who double faulted 16 times and had 61 unforced errors compared to 23 from Pennetta. “I was surprised it went to the third and I had my opportunities, but I couldn't close it out.” Pennetta played an aggressive match, rarely giving ground even when Sharapova tried to force her off court with big groundstrokes. “To play against her I have to be very aggressive and in the second set I started to wait for her mistakes and that's why the match changed so much,” said Pennetta, who also reached the LA final last year before falling to Dinara Safina. Playing in her sixth tournament since returning to the tour in May following shoulder surgery, the 22-year-old Russian was heartened by her week overall, but knows she has a long way to go before regaining championship form. “It's almost like new territory for me,” said Sharapova, who hasn't won a title since April 2008. In reaching her first final of the year, Stosur nailed seven aces and won 85 percent of her first serve points. Cirstea had suffered a right foot injury in her upset of Agnieszka Radwanska on Friday and never looked comfortable moving, committing 25 unforced errors.
