( dpa ) - Andy Roddick crashed to a 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) loss in the final of the Los Angeles Classic on Sunday as hot-handed Argentine Juan del Potro won his third straight ATP title.
The 19-year-old South American, set for a move into the Top 20 on Monday, cracked the code of the Roddick serve as the top seed played a day match for the first time this week.
Roddick smashed a racket after losing his first two serves and was treated for lower back pain as he trailed 1-4.
Del Potro has now won his last 14 matches, lifting clay trophies last month at his previous two events in Stuttgart and Kitzbuehel.
The win was del Potro's second over a top 10 player after losing 13 and brought his career finals record to 3-0, all played in the past month.