Google News
The 22-year-old Czech Jiri Lehecka conquered his first ATP title in Adelaide. Lehecka took down another young gun Jack Draper 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and eight minutes, overcoming a slow start and lifting the trophy with a fine performance in sets two and three.
The Czech claimed six points more than the Briton, defending eight out of nine break points and stealing the rival's serve two times to emerge at the top. Jack forged the advantage in the shortest and most advanced exchanges.
However, Jiri erased it in the mid-range ones, winning 16 points more than his opponent in that area and making the difference. Lehecka made a commanding start, firing a forehand down the line winner in the encounter's first game for a hold at love.
Seeking his first ATP title, Draper landed an ace in the second game, holding at 15 and leveling the score at 1-1. The Czech missed a volley in the third game, facing a break point. He denied it with a forehand crosscourt winner before netting a forehand to face the second.
Jiri Lehecka claimed his first ATP title in Adelaide over Jack Draper.
Jiri erased it with a service winner and fired an ace to bring the game home and avoid an early setback. They served well in the next three games, locking the result at 3-3 after 21 minutes.
Draper passed Lehecka at the net in the seventh game, creating three break chances. The Briton cracked a forehand down the line winner on the first to secure a break at love and move 4-3 in front. Lehecka served to stay in the set at 3-5 and struggled again.
Jiri sprayed a forehand error and faced a set point. He denied it with a forehand down the line winner and erased the second break point with a forehand attack. The Czech painted a backhand down the line winner, holding and reducing the deficit to 5-4.
Draper served for the opener in game ten and held with a forehand winner for 6-4 after 44 minutes. Both players wasted a break point in the second set's games four and five, staying neck and neck until 4-4. Lehecka held in game nine after deuce, keeping the pressure on the other side.
The Czech stepped in on the return and earned three set points with a backhand down the line winner. Jiri converted the second with a crafty drop shot, taking the set 6-4 and forcing a decider after an hour and a half.
With a boost on his side, Lehecka held at love in the first game and grabbed his second straight break in game two for a 2-0 advantage. The Czech served at 3-1 and faced the ultimate challenge after a forehand error, offering the Briton three break chances.
Jiri denied them with winners and fired an ace to bring the game home and move 4-1 ahead. They served well in the next three games, and Lehecka needed another fine hold at 5-3. He earned two match points with a forehand winner and missed the first after Draper's rock-solid defense.
Jiri seized the second with a service winner, celebrating his first ATP title and gathering a boost ahead of the Australian Open.