Jiri Lehecka has sealed his maiden ATP Tour title denying
Jack Draper in the process at the
Adelaide International on Saturday morning 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. He came from a set down to seal the win ahead of the Australian Open where he will defend Quarter-Final points.
He is the first Czech player to win an ATP title since 2020 which saw Jiri Vesely crowned a champion and he emulates Tomas Berdych as the first Czech player into the top 25 since the former front runner in 2018.
Lehecka had a great run through with the 22-year-old defeating Nicolas Jarry and Sebastian Korda among others, but the early impetus sat with Draper. He had five break points in the opening set and even though he only used one, it was enough as Draper sealed it 6-4 with his opponent unable to craft an opportunity on the Brit's serve.
He looked in the ascendancy and one away from a title defining his recent form and return from injury. But the second set proved to be a lot more challenging as he couldn't find the same level and precision as he did in the first. The Czech ace broke in the tenth game and sent the match into a decider after sealing it 6-4.
In the third set, the seventh seed was one step ahead and got a break early in the second game. After that he saved three break points in the fifth game which proved to be Draper's final chance to get back into the tie. After just over two hours, Lehecka sealed a maiden ATP title and told Draper post match just to stay injury free after his much mooted issues in recent years.
