updated 8:59 p.m. ET Feb. 13, 2005

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Andy Roddick can forget his frustrating finish in the Australian Open.

He has a new trophy in tow, his evolving backhand slice is improving every day, and he finished work early Sunday.

The top-seeded Roddick played a near-flawless first set and breezed to a 6-0, 6-4 victory over unseeded Cyril Saulnier in 50 minutes to win the SAP Open in the fastest final on the ATP circuit this season.

The American star is the first to record a shutout set in the championship of this event since Arthur Ashe beat Guillermo Vilas in 1975.

“The first set was really good tennis on my part,” Roddick said. “I would have to really, really nitpick to find something wrong with it.”

Roddick, who needed just nice aces, won his 16th career title less than 20 hours after a thrilling 7-6 (3), 6-3 semifinal win Saturday night over third-seeded Tommy Haas that featured the best rallies of the tournament.

Roddick, ranked third in the world, becomes the first to win the event in consecutive years since Mark Philippoussis in 1999 and 2000. Roddick has beaten Saulnier in all three of their career meetings, but the first two both went three sets — with four of their six sets decided in tiebreakers.

Roddick captured his first ATP title since winning the RCA Championships in Indianapolis last July behind 23 winners and only eight unforced errors.

He said before the tournament began that he was determined to bounce back after the Australian Open and his disappointing four-set semifinal loss to runner-up Lleyton Hewitt — the only blemish on his 10-1 record this season.

“There was this big misconception I was totally off track,” Roddick said. “I certainly didn’t feel that way. I guess I was the only one. It’s definitely a great stepping stone.”

He could find little wrong with this day.

“I wasn’t getting cell phone service inside the stadium this morning,” he said, smiling.

Roddick needed three sets to beat both Lee Hyung-taik in the second round and Thomas Enqvist in the quarterfinals, then played spectacular tennis in his last two matches.

“Today I came in and was feeling good, feeling confident,” Roddick said. “There weren’t the questions, ’How am I going to play?’ for the first time in the week.”

He seemed loose the whole time Sunday. When he struck a forehand and sent the ball nearly to the roof and then into the stands, he just said “Wow!” Roddick later joked with a ball boy, causing the crowd to chuckle.

And during his news conference afterward, Roddick had a blast discussing his newfound poker talent — or lack thereof.

Saulnier, a Frenchman ranked 55th who reached his first career final by losing just one set along the way, dropped the first set in 20 minutes and was overpowered by Roddick’s booming serve and devastating groundstrokes.

“He didn’t give me many chances,” Saulnier said. “For me, he’s one of the best players. It’s good for me. I need to improve my game against players like that. In the second set, I started a little better. I had in my mind to keep going.”

Roddick had seven winners before his first unforced error, a double fault in the fourth game of the first set. It was one of three mistakes he made in the set.

Roddick hit first serves up to 143 mph. When he broke Saulnier for 2-1 in the second set, he chased down a drop shot and Saulnier sprayed a forehand wide, causing Roddick to pump his fist in excitement.

His next service game was his most impressive: He hit aces of 112, 128 and 139 mph.

“Take it easy, Andy!” one fan hollered early in the second set.

Saulnier entered the final with the highest return percentage in the tournament against the event’s most talented server. He advanced to the title match with a 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-3 win over Austrian Jurgen Melzer, who was in control before severely spraining his ankle in the second set.

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