Jiri Lehecka came from behind to claim his first ATP tour title with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Briton Jack Draper in an absorbing final at the Adelaide International on Saturday.
The Czech reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open last year and will be battle-hardened for his third trip to Melbourne Park after the tight two-hour contest against fellow 22-year-old Draper.
A single service break was enough to give lefthander Draper the opening set but Lehecka levelled up the contest when he managed the second of the match to snatch the second stanza.
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That appeared to knock a bit of the stuffing out of Draper, who was also seeking his maiden tour title, and Lehecka raced to a 3-0 lead in the decider.
Draper, whose career has been blighted by injuries, never gave up the fight and had three break points at 3-1 but Lehecka saved them all and sealed the title with an unreturnable serve after just over two hours on court.
“It’s hard for me to say anything because I’m so emotional after winning my first title in Adelaide, I’m so excited,” Lehecka said after the trophy presentation.
“Such an amazing way to start the year.”
Lehecka, the 32nd seed, takes on Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the first round in Melbourne, while Draper, who lost to Rafael Nadal last year in his only previous match at the Australian Open, faces American Marcos Giron.
Ostapenko beats Kasatkina in straight sets
Sixth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko had a more comfortable push for victory as she secured her seventh WTA tour title with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Daria Kasatkina in a night match.
Former French Open champion Ostapenko tuned up for the Australian Open with an impressive straight-set victory in 74 minutes against last year’s finalist Kasatkina.
Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia Plays a backhand during their Womens Singles Finals match against Daria Kasatkina in the 2024 Adelaide International at Memorial Drive. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Her first title on hardcourts since Dubai in 2002 marked her return to the top 10 for the first time in five years in what has been a perfect lead up week to the Australia Open starting Sunday.
The Latvian player powered 32 winners to Kasatkina’s 12 and made decisive breaks in each set which kept Kasatkina constantly on the back foot.
Kasatkina had advanced to the final after second-seeded Jessica Pegula withdrew with a gastrointestinal illness. It was the second consecutive walkover for Kasatkina, after Laura Siegemund withdrew ahead of their quarterfinal due to a left leg injury.
The 26-year-old Ostapenko is seeded No. 11 for the Australian Open in Melbourne and will play wild-card Kimberly Birrell in the first round. Ostapenko reached the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park last year.
Kasatkina is the 14th seeded player and will play No. 48 Peyton Stearns of the United States in the first round at the major.
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