Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 481 Sun. October 02, 2005  
   
Sports


Stepanek a step closer


Number three seed Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic could finally win his first career singles title in the final of the Vietnam Open against Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman on Sunday.

Stepanek, a singles finalist this year in Milan, outgunned Sweden's Thomas Johansson, the number two seed, 7-5, 6-4 Saturday to claim the first final spot in the 380,000 dollar event.

Bjorkman, with five singles titles to his name but none so far this year, coasted into the second final spot with a 6-1, 6-0 victory against top seed Mariano Puerta of Argentina.