Tennis: Roddick beats Štepánek in Brisbane final

Czech tennis player Radek Štepánek has lost to the American Andy Roddick in the final of the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament. Štepánek fought a close match, clawing back from 4:0 in the second set, but a double-fault in the tie-break sealed his defeat. The final score was 7:6, 7:6. Štepánek had hoped to defend his title in the tournament from last year. Brisbane is considered final preparation for the first grand slam event of the season, the Australian Open.