The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Andy Roddick strolled into the interview room and made a statement before one question could even be asked. "No more, 'What's it feel like to be the future of American tennis?"' he declared.

Good point, kid.

After beating Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3 Sunday to win the U.S. Open, there is no question Roddick is America's new star - not just one in waiting.

Roddick chose the ultimate American tennis stage to make that leap, capping a tournament that began with a goodbye to Pete Sampras, who won his record 14th Grand Slam title at last year's Open.

"I don't think you could have written a script any better," Roddick said. "Starting it off with Pete's retirement. ... It was just too good."

He was just too good.

Roddick rode his rocket of a serve to his first Grand Slam victory in his first major final, completing a sensational summer on the hard courts.

"It was not a surprise for me," Ferrero said. "If he serves so good, it's not easy to beat him. I think I played a really bad match today. I didn't do my tennis. I didn't hit the ball aggressive like yesterday. Maybe because he served so hard all the time and I didn't feel a rhythm on the court."

Ferrero, playing for the fourth straight day after rain interfered with the schedule last week, didn't exhibit the same energy that has earned him the nickname "Mosquito" for the way he scurries around the court. A day earlier, he'd beaten Andre Agassi to take over the No. 1 ranking in the world.

Roddick turned 21 during the Open, and Ferrero is 23, making for the youngest combined ages of U.S. Open finalists since Sampras beat Agassi in 1990.

Roddick won at the very tournament he often came to as a child, watching the greats from the cheap seats of the National Tennis Center.

"I came here so much when I was younger," he said. "I still don't believe that I've won the U.S. Open. It's so farfetched for me."

Roddick blasted three straight aces to end it, giving him 23 for the final and a tournament total of 123. He won his season-leading 19th straight match, and he's 37-2 since hiring Brad Gilbert, Agassi's former coach, after a first-round loss at the French Open. He has won a tour-best six titles this year and moves up to a career-best No. 2 in the rankings.

"There's been a lot of pressure on him. This will shut a lot of people up that he was all hype," U.S. Davis Cup coach Patrick McEnroe said. "We knew he had it. It's a great day for him and for American tennis. It's a great passing of the baton."

Look how far Roddick has come in so short a time.

Last Christmas, the entertainment of choice in the Roddick household was a video of Andy playing in a national junior tournament in Columbus, Ohio, at age 13.

"He was a pip-squeak. He had no size and he had no serve," big brother John said. "We rolled on the floor laughing watching it."

After nailing his final ace to finish off the reigning French Open champion, Roddick curled up, covering his eyes as they welled with tears.

Then, he jumped over the camera well much like he leaps into the air on his spectacular serve, making a mad dash up the stairs of Arthur Ashe Stadium to find his coach, his family and his girlfriend - actress and singer Mandy Moore.

On the way back down, Roddick slapped high-fives with fans as he maneuvered through the seats.

"It means a lot," said his mother, Blanche. "From the time he was very, very young, I had a lot of belief in him. The hardest part was getting someone else to believe in him. There are so many tennis people out there who believe they have the next champion. We weren't going to give up as long as he wanted it. Today is a great conclusion to all of that."

Roddick kissed his shiny trophy on both sides and even on the top, once wiping off the spot where he'd placed his lips so there would be no smudge.

As he made his exit, kids hollered, "Andy, can we have your hat?"

He obliged, signing and giving away several hats he had hooked to his racket bag.

During one stretch, Roddick won 23 straight points on his serve. That included the final game of the first set, which he won this way: forehand winner down the line, 139 mph service winner, 141 mph ace, and 131 mph ace.

"I'm baffled by how calm I felt out there. How easy it was," Roddick said. "I almost didn't feel anything."