KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Andy Roddick's softest shots made the biggest impact yesterday. He kept Tomas Berdych out of rhythm by hitting delicate backhands, loopy forehands and changeup first serves.

By the ninth game, Berdych was so flummoxed he lost track of the score.

There was no confusion about the final result: Roddick beat Berdych, 7-5, 6-4, to win the Sony Ericsson Open.

It was Roddick's fifth title in a Masters 1000 tournament — one level below the Grand Slams — and his first since 2006. The runner-up two weeks ago at Indian Wells, another Masters 1000 event, Roddick has a record of 26-4 this year, best on the men's tour. He also won the tournament in 2004.

"The last month has been real good for me," said Roddick, who was seeded sixth. "I've played well on the big moments. I've been able to have a game plan and execute it, regardless of what kind of shots it takes."

Roddick had only 16 unforced errors. He had 13 aces and never faced a break point.

Roddick lost only seven points on his serve in the second set and dropped just two service games in the tournament.

AUTO RACING

RED BULL DUO WINS

Sebastian Vettel captured the Malaysian Grand Prix yesterday, beating teammate Mark Webber to the checkers and posting a 1-2 finish for Red Bull at Sepang, Malaysia.

Vettel passed Webber in the run to the first corner and held that lead throughout the Formula One race, with Nico Rosberg finishing third for Mercedes as forecast rain stayed away.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa finished seventh and leads the championship by two points over Vettel and teammate Fernando Alonso.

POWER BOATING

2 RACERS DIE AT EVENT

Veteran American powerboat racer David Bryant has been killed in an accident during a race in Australia, one of two competitors to die during the weekend event on the Manning River in northern New South Wales state.

Police identified the 44-year-old Bryant of Mesa, Ariz., yesterday. A statement from the New South Wales police media unit says the American was ejected from his craft as it traveled at a speed of about 135 mph.

Police say emergency services attended to Bryant at the scene and he was taken to Manning Base Hospital, where he died a short time later.

On Saturday, 61-year-old Australian Brian McCosker was racing against fellow competitors around a circuit on the same river when his boat flipped.

AND WHAT'S MORE ...

Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara shook off Tom Boonen on the toughest climb of the Tour of Flanders and raced away to a solo cycling victory ahead of the Belgian champion at Brussels. American Lance Armstrong did not cross the line among the leading finishers.