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Andy Roddick held off a fierce challenge from Israeli underdog Dudi Sela to win the China Open, his third ATP title of the year.

Big-serving Roddick, the second seed at the Beijing tournament, overcame 92-ranked Sela, playing in his first ATP final, 6-4 6-7 (6) 6-3.

"I told you guys yesterday, he probably played the best out of anyone thus far in this tournament," Roddick said.

"I had in the back of my mind that I'd played 30 to 40 finals and that this was his first one, so I knew that would count for something."

Pushed throughout by his unfancied opponent, Roddick served for the match at 6-4 in the second set tie-break but Sela played a gentle pick-up shot at the net to take the point, recovering to win 8-6.

In the third and deciding set, Sela, who showed a willingness to come in throughout the match, continued to impress with the range of his shot-making, but could not force the break from Roddick.

Instead it was the world number eight who made the crucial breakthrough in the sixth game and despite further scares he took the set 6-3 in a match lasting two hours.

"I showed myself that I can play with the big players," said Sela, who helped Israel beat Peru to retain its place in the Davis Cup World Group last week.

"You know it's a lot of pressure when you play against [Roddick] because you know you have to keep your serve every time."

Both players had started the match strongly, with neither conceding a point on serve until the fourth game. However Roddick forced a break in the fifth.

Sela fended off three set points on his own serve at 5-3 down but Roddick, who won 100 percent of his first serves in the opener, made no mistake on his own serve.

In the second set the American broke Sela to go 3-2 up but amid roars of encouragement from the crowd, Sela broke back immediately, taking advantage of some erratic volleying by the American.

In the doubles final, Australia's Stephen Huss and Britain's Ross Hutchins beat Australian Ashley Fisher and Bobby Reynolds, from the United States, 7-5 6-4.

AFP