Rochus wins first all-Belgian ATP final in Munich

MUNICH, May 7 (Reuters) Olivier Rochus won the Munich Open today with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Kristof Vliegen in the first all-Belgian ATP final in the open era.

Rochus, the fifth seed, broke late in the first set and twice in the second to take the 44,100 euros first prize at the clay-court tournament.

''It's just amazing for Belgian tennis,'' Rochus said. ''It's much nicer to meet in the final than in the first round. It was just unfortunate that one of us had to lose.'' The unseeded Vliegen had won the only previous meeting between the two players in an ATP event at Umag in 2004 and the way he went for his shots at the start of Sunday's final suggested he was confident of another victory.

Vliegen, taller and more powerful than his opponent, consistently hit the ball hard and close to the lines but Rochus was able to grab an early break with a great topspin lob hit on the run in game three.

Vliegen hit back for 3-3 with a delicate half-volley drop shot on break-point and had chances to break in the next but he made a series of unforced errors in game nine to gift Rochus what turned out to be the decisive advantage.

Rochus grew in confidence in the second set, gaining his first break in game three and running out an easy winner.

REUTERS PG PM1947