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Jack Draper continues to search for the first ATP title of his career after he lost the Adelaide International final in three sets to Jiri Lehecka on Saturday.
Appearing in just his second-ever career singles final – having lost at the Sofia Open in November – the 22-year-old Brit clinched the first set, and forced two break points in the second, but could not win the third set decider as Lehecka prevailed 4-6 6-4 6-3.
Draper looked increasingly tired towards the end and will need to recover quickly ahead of a first-round meeting with American Marcos Giron at the Australian Open on Tuesday.
Congratulating Lehecka on court, Draper said: “A career-high ranking, playing some amazing tennis and your first title. I was trying to do the same today but you deserve it and you were the better player today. Hopefully, I can play a lot more great tennis in big finals to come.”
Lehecka said: “It’s hard for me to say something because it is so emotional for me to win my first title here in Adelaide. I’m super excited.
“I would like to congratulate Jack and his team because it is such a joy to watch you. I wish you all the best for the rest of the season. Just stay healthy and keep playing.”
The only real question mark surrounding whether Draper can reach the very top of the game is his body, with a succession of injuries stalling his progress last season.
His many talents were on display in the opening set against his fellow 22-year-old, with Draper breaking Lehecka’s serve to love in the seventh game.
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Draper came out on top of an incredible rally against Jiri Lehecka in the second set of the match in the Adelaide final
The clean-hitting Czech, who reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open last year, was hanging on in the second set but pulled off a miraculous volley winner at 4-4 0-30 and then took advantage of a nervous game from Draper to draw level.
The British No 4 became increasingly frustrated at the start of the decider, kicking his racket and screaming into his towel after dropping serve again.
He was unable to take three chances to get back on serve and it was Lehecka who got his hands on a first ATP Tour title.
Draper’s Davis Cup team-mate Joe Salisbury did walk away with a trophy after he and American partner Rajeev Ram took the doubles title, narrowly beating Indian-Australian duo Rohan Bopanna and Matt Ebden.
Ostapenko claims Adelaide International final victory over Kasatkina
In the women’s final at Memorial Drive Tennis Centre, former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia beat Russian Daria Kasatkina 6-3 6-2 – with Ostapenko breaking serve five times in the match.
Ostapenko’s win assures the Latvian of a return to the top 10 in the world rankings for the first time since 2018, as the 26-year-old, who reached the quarter-finals in Brisbane last week, showed impressive form before the Australian Open.
Ostapenko, the 11th seed in Melbourne, faces Australia’s Kimberly Birrell in the first round, and will be looking to improve on her best performance at the tournament last year when she reached the quarter-finals and lost to Elena Rybakina.
Kasatkina, number 15 in the world, reached the final in Adelaide with two walkovers in the previous rounds, and the 26-year-old will take on American Peyton Stearns in the first round in Melbourne.
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