Bjorkman wins inaugural Vietnam open
HO CHI MINH CITY - Jonas Bjorkman defeated third-seeded Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-6 (4) Sunday to win the inaugural Vietnam Open for his first ATP title since 2002.
Bjorkman, an unseeded Swede, was coming off an upset of top-seeded Mariano Puerta in the semifinals.
"I felt very relaxed going on the court," Bjorkman said. "I managed to play my best tennis in the biggest match of the week."
This tournament marked the first time Vietnam has hosted international-level tennis. High ticket prices and little publicity, however, resulted in mediocre attendance. The stadium was only three-quarters full for the final.
Still, tournament director Amit Naor was "more than satisfied" and said ATP organizers have committed to a three-year deal in Vietnam.
"For the first tournament, we got a great response," he said. "I think the future of tennis in Vietnam and the future of the ATP in Vietnam is very bright."
The Associated Press - October 02, 2005.
Fans steer clear of Vietnam Open
High ticket prices and a lack of media interest have kept spectators away from Vietnam's first major tennis tournament this week, critics say.
Fans were unable to afford entrance prices at the Vietnam Open ATP event in Ho Chi Minh City, ticket sellers said.
Tickets for Saturday's semi-finals, which pitted Czech Radek Stepanek against Swede Thomas Johansson and top-seeded Argentine Mariano Puerta against another Swede, Jonas Bjorkman, were priced from 300,000 to 600,000 dong ($19-$38).
Entry to Sunday's final costs 750,000 dong ($47). The annual per capita income in Vietnam is around $540.
"Many wanted to see but when they came the ticket price turned them away," said Tao Nhu Thu, a seller at the Phu Tho complex where the indoor tournament was being held.
Just a few hours before the semi-finals, ticket sellers said there were no fans queueing to buy tickets.
One seller said fans had resigned themselves to watching the semi-finals and final on local television.
"The number of spectators did not meet the requirement," admitted Nguyen Xuan Lap, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Tennis Federation.
He said the tournament had been aimed at showing Vietnamese players how top international competitors performed.
"Their skill is extremely high but if we do not start now, we can never start," Lap said.
Rising incomes in Vietnam, one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economies, have drawn more people into the sport brought in by the French at the start of the 20th century and which rapidly became popular among the elite.
However, officials said the level of skill was low and Vietnam, lacking proper training facilities and financial support, has not been able to compete even in regional events.
Four Vietnamese players signed up for the Open but failed to get beyond the second round of qualifying.
"I did not care how the foreigners played but only wanted to see our guys playing, but they failed right from the qualifying matches," said a 34-year-old man who works for a foreign insurance firm in Hanoi and plays tennis at weekends.
In a week when 51 people died in flash floods caused by Typhoon Damrey in northern Vietnam, national television broadcast no live coverage of the tennis and newspapers printed only the scores.
The tournament was played at the same time as the Thailand Open in Bangkok, which attracted several of the world's top players including number one Roger Federer and number five Lleyton Hewitt.
The Australian Associated Press - October 01, 2005.
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