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Australia's Aleksandar Vukic insisted that he was simply happy to be back on court after winning the third edition of the UTR Pro Tennis Series in Sydney. Vukic, ranked at No. 197 in the world, handed a straight-set defeat to fellow compatriot Max Purcell 6-4 6-3 in the final of the UTR Pro Tennis Series event.
"It was good to get back on court to be honest and just play the matches,” Vukic said, as quoted on Tennis Australia. Two weeks ago, Purcell won the first edition of the UTR Pro Tennis Series after beating Vukic in two sets.
“I played him a few weeks ago and he got me there. It was just good to get into the match mentality," Vukic said. But this Sunday, Vukic was the one who came up big in the final to lift the title. Vukic saved a break point in the opening game of the match, before he claimed the lone break of the first set in the seventh game.
Vukic dropped the break he earned in the first game of the second set but then broke Purcell two more times to comfortably win the second set and claim a straight-set win. "I think they were pretty different matches. I maybe changed a few things up.
It was a bit slower today and I was able to get into more of the service points, which was possibly the main difference,” Vukic related. “He served quite well in that first match and that was pretty much it. He’s a great player and there’s not much between us but I got him today”.
Vukic thrilled to be playing tennis once again
The ATP Tour has been suspended since March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic and the plan is to restart the season in August. Vukic, who ended runner-up at the Monterey Challenger just before the Tour suspension, says tennis is his job and he is thrilled to be back playing the game.
"I’m honestly glad to be back on court and doing what we love to do,” Vukic said. “That’s our job, so it’s good to be back out there”. Vukic sat out the second edition of the UTR Pro Tennis Series due to a slight injury.
"The body was in a bit of shock that’s for sure,” Vukic said. “But it held up very well for the third one so hopefully it will be fine once the season gets back and running”.