Jonas Bjorkman completed a Swedish title hattrick at home Sunday, coming back to defeat Dutchman Jan Siemerink 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-4 to claim the title at the $825,000 Stockholm Open. The world number four, competing in next week's ATP World Championship in Hanover, Germany, found his way back after losing a tentavtive first set at the Kungliga Tennishallen.
His trophy was the third in succession for a home player here after Davis Cup team-mate Thomas Enqvist won the crown for the last two years. Siemerink, ranked 105 on the computer, made a partial comeback from the wilderness after beating Boris Becker and Wimbledon finalist Cedric Pioline this week. Bjorkman had the weight of Swedish expectations on his shoulders. The 24-year-old's qualification for the season finale in Hanover, Germany, continues a tradition of Sweden placing a man in the top 10 uninterruptedly since 1974.
The victory was worth $112,000 to Bjorkman and gives him a dose of confidence heading to Germany, where round-robin play begins Tuesday. Siemerink, whose ranking had fallen from 15th in January to its current spot, due mainly to a lack of confidence, will climb back into the 80s. Siemerink tore through the first set, winning it on his sixth ace after breaking for a 3-1 lead against the tentative Swede, watched by his parents, his sports psychologist and an enthusiastic crowd. The 27-year-old Dutchman, playing in his first final in more than a year, went up a break in the fifth game of the second set, but found himself back on serve when a long return gave Bjorkman 4-4.
The Swede dominated in the ensuing tiebreaker, levelling the sets on the first of four chances. Bjorkman roared through the third set, taking a 4-0 lead and ceding only two games to the challenger. The fourth set was decided when the Swede broke for 5-4 from Siemerink's forehand volley error. Bjorkman served out for victory, gaining three match points but needing only one. Bjorkman is one of six Swedish winners of nine titles on the Tour this year and his three-trophies - Auckland, Indianapolis and Stockholm - set the pace for his compatriots.
"This is the greatest win of my career," said Bjorkman. "In the first set it was bad for me, I couldn't read Jan's serve at all. But as the match went on, I got into it. The crowd here really helped, they cheered me on to the win."
The Swede earned his 67th match victory of 1997, the most on the Tour this year.
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