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Unseeded American Sam Querrey clinched his first career ATP title as he came back to defeat South African qualifier Kevin Anderson 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday at the Tennis Channel Open in Las Vegas.

Anderson got off to a perfect start as he broke Querrey in the first game of the match, but that would be the only time the American dropped serve during the two hour match. He saved nine of ten break chances faced, while breaking Anderson's serve twice in four opportunities.

At 3-all in the second set, Querrey won three straight games to send the match to a decisive set, where he broke Anderson at 2-all. He served out the match to love, sealing the win with his 12th ace of the match.

"On my break point in the second set we had just a great point," said Querrey. "I had a couple reflex volleys at the net, and it seemed like it turned things around. In the first set, he was serving 89 percent first serves so there was not a whole lot I could do there."

Anderson said: "The main difference was the couple break points he had, he managed to take advantage of both of them. Every chance I was up a set, a couple break points, he came up with a forehand winner and an ace. It was a close match. he was able to take advantage of his opportunities; on my chances, I wasn't able to capitalize."

Querrey, who came in at No. 66 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, improves to a 12-6 record for the 2008 season and an 8-2 record in Las Vegas. He saved one match point in his first round victory over Sebastien Grosjean, and also posted wins over No. 8 seed Nicolas Kiefer in the second round and No. 4 seed Guillermo Canas in the quarterfinals.

"I feel great," said Querrey, the third first-time winner this season (Nishikori - Delray Beach, Stakhovsky - Zagreb). "This is my best five matches I've put together in a row on tour, and it's really exciting. I've got a lot of confidence right now... I thought I played great this whole week, and I just got to keep it up."

The 20-year-old Californian is the 11th American champion at this event, joining the company of John McEnroe (1986), Brad Gilbert (1987), Andre Agassi (1993-4, 1998, 2002), Jim Courier (1995), Jan-Michael Gambill (1999), Vincent Spadea (2004) and James Blake (2006).

With Querrey's win Sunday and Andy Roddick's title win in Dubai on Saturday, it marks the first time two Americans won titles at ATP events in the same week since August 1996 when Pete Sampras won Indianapolis and Alex O’Brien won New Haven.

The 21-year-old Anderson was contesting just his third career ATP-level tournament, and was winless (0-2) before Las Vegas.

"It's always disappointing to lose," he said. "I'm obviously extremely competitive, and I would have loved to win today, but it's definitely important to look at the week as a whole and all the benefits that have come out of it. There's been many. That belief of being able to compete with the guys, it's helped by ranking a ton. Overall, I'm extremely happy about the whole week."

Prior to Sunday's final, the 6'7" (2.01m) Johannesburg native has not dropped a set in the main draw and only one in three qualifying matches. He upset No. 6 seed Michael Llodra in the first round.

Anderson, the first South African to reach an ATP final since Wesley Moodie won the title in Tokyo on Oct. 9, 2005, will move from his current career-high ranking of No. 175 to No. 121.

Anderson said: "My next aim is to be Top 100, the main draws of the Grand Slams. That was actually my yearly goal, and I think that goal is definitely attainable a lot sooner than that. But still, to attain my ultimate goal of being Top 10 in the world. It's going to take a lot more hard work. There's obviously some things I need to work hard to compete with the very best of the game. It was an awesome week, but I still am extremely motivated to keep working hard."

The former University of Illinois star is the third player in the last month to make it out of the qualifying draw and reach an ATP final. Last month, Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori qualified and won the title in Delray Beach. Last week, lucky loser Sergiy Stakhovsky lost in the final round of qualifying in Zagreb but advanced into the main draw when a player withdrew. He took advantage of that opportunity and won his first ATP title.

Saturday: Querrey, Qualifier Anderson Meet for First ATP Title
Friday: Canas, Anderson, Ginepri, Querrey in SFs
Thursday: Korolev Needs 11 M.P. to Beat Gonzalez
Wednesday: Benneteau Upsets Hewitt; Canas Through
Tuesday: Gonzalez Avenges Davis Cup Defeat; Baghdatis Wins
Monday: Hewitt Routs Safin in First Round

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