Adelaide International | Tomas Machac completes perfect day for Czech tennis with determined victory over Ugo Humbert for second ATP title

Tomas Machac comes out on top in the Adelaide International, as he takes home the title in a hard fought 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-2 triumph over Ugo Humbert to clinch the spoils in southern Australia.

A Czech name is back on the trophy after Jiri Lehecka took home glory back in 2024. The number eight seed took down James Duckworth, Quentin Halys, Jaume Munar, and former top 10 player Tommy Paul in the semi-finals to book a third ATP final.

This was an 11th final for the Frenchman, and the first at the start of the season since 2020 when he won his maiden ATP title in the ASB Classic, He was looking to add an eighth title to his growing collection, reaching the final after disposing of Terence Atmane, Tallon Griekspoor, Alexander Zhevchenko and the number one seed Alejandro Davidovic Fokina in three sets to set up a final tie with Machac.

Humbert was the faster out of the blocks, racing into a 3-0 lead with a break of serve. This was instantly replied with a three-game spurt from his opponent, getting things on level terms. Humbert snuck ahead and even had a chance to take a 5-3 advantage but was not up to the task. This would prove to be pivotal, with Machac breaking straight after this before holding to love to take the first set in domineering fashion.

The second set was one dominated by whoever was serving. There was one break point in the whole of it, but Humbert was once again not able to covert it. The set sailed into what seemed like a destined tiebreak, with Machac looking to wrap this match up. He was unable to do this, as the Frenchman raced into a 6-2 lead, clinically closing it out to give the Aussie fans one more set to watch.

After letting the match fall away from him, Machac was not making any more mistakes. The 25-year-old upped the gears and broke the Humbert serve, ominously going into a 4-1 lead. The trailing Humbert was unable to give any solid response as Machac broke for a second time right at the end of the match to win his second ATP title.

"I kept the focus in the third set and kept the level of my tennis very high in the third set. I started to play a little more aggressively and served well," Machac said after the match. "I am very glad that after my injuries, I can be in this moment with the trophy and with a great level of tennis."

Czech tennis fans will be waking up to see that both their players have come away with glory, Machac in Adelaide and 20-year-old talent Jakub Mensik in the ASB Classic over Sebastian Baez. This is the first time it has occurred since 1982.

The focus for Machac and Humbert is firmly on the Australian Open. Machac will carry the better momentum, riding the crest of a wave after winning the title. He moves up 11 spots in the ranking to world number 24, and will look to break back into the top 20 once more in Melbourne.