Taking motivation from being called a "dark horse" by Tournament Director Richard Krajicek, No. 6 seed
Radek Stepanek won his career-first title in his fourth final Sunday at the ATP stop in Rotterdam, delivering 17 aces in blowing unseeded Belgian
Christophe Rochus off the court 6-0, 6-3.
"When you made me a dark horse, you gave me some extra motivation," Stepanek jibed Krajicek in a post-match conference.
Stepanek came into the final via a win over Top 10er
Nikolay Davydenko, and even though he had a career 1-1 record with Rochus, in the final the Czech didn't let the diminutive Belgian play his game.
"I like to play long rallies, but he didn't allow me," Rochus said.
In the doubles final the No. 2-seeded pair of Australian Paul Hanley and South African Kevin Ullyett beat Israel's Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram 7-6(4), 7-6(2) for their first team title of 2006.
