AMERICAN Andy Roddick and Belgium's Kim Clijsters were both victorious earlier this week as each claimed a title. Top seed Roddick powered past French teenager Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-2 to win the Lyon Grand Prix on Sunday. The American completed the week without dropping his serve to snatch his fifth ATP title of the year after wins at San Jose, Houston, Queen's and Washington. Monfils, 19, lost his serve once at the beginning of each set to bow out in little more than an hour. Roddick sealed it when Monfils hit a forehand wide on the world number three's second match point. Roddick now heads to the Paris Masters, where he will again be the clear favourite as the indoor tournament has been hit by a number of high-profile withdrawals. Monfils admitted he found the third ATP final of his promising career a tough experience but said he hoped he would get the chance to play the big- serving star in front of his home fans again. "I have to say 'congratulations' to Andy," the world number 36 said. "He made it so hard for me because I had so much respect for him out on court. I hope I can play him again many times -- and why not here?" Roddick was equally complimentary about his challenger. "Gael is a great young player, and everyone in France should be very excited about him," he said. But he confessed he would swap his 2005 Tour achievement's for one taste of Grand Slam glory. "Five titles are not that bad for a season many see as a disappointing one," he said. "Of course, I would trade all of them against a single Grand Slam title." Meanwhile, Clijsters breezed past Francesca Schiavone 6-2, 6-3 in the final of the Gaz de France Stars on Sunday to claim her ninth tournament win of the year. Clijsters did not lose a set all week but got off to a poor start against her Italian rival, seeded 15th in Hasselt. The 22-year-old Belgian lost her first service game but recovered quickly to the delight of the home crowd of 3,000. Schiavone, yet to win a WTA event, hailed Clijsters. "She is a great athlete and a great champion." Given her fantastic form, Clijsters will be among the favourites for next week's WTA Tour Championship in Los Angeles. But the world number two said Lindsay Davenport would represent a big threat. "I won't be the only one in shape there," said Clijsters. "Lindsay has been great, too. It is the last tournament for everyone in the top eight and they all will give it their best."
