Australian Open Title Taker: Czech Player Lehecka Emerges Victorious in Adelaide International Final

ADELAIDE, Australia — Australia in January suits tennis player Lehecka just fine. Last year, he reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

On Saturday, the seventh-seeded Czech beat unseeded Briton Draper 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the Adelaide International final to win his first ATP Tour title.

Sixth-seeded Ostapenko had a more comfortable push for victory as she secured her seventh WTA tour title with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Kasatkina in a night match.

The 22-year-old Lehecka beat third-seeded Draper 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals to reach his second tour final. Draper also was playing in his second final and his second in succession after losing to Sinner in the final of the Sofia Open in November. Saturday’s final was a contest of big hitters in which Lehecka served eight aces, Draper seven. That was indicative of a close match, which lasted 2 hours, 8 minutes.

“It’s hard for me to say something because it is so emotional for me to win my first title here in Adelaide,” Lehecka said. “I’m super excited.”

Lehecka is the first Czech player to win an ATP title since Jiri Vesely in Pune in 2020. Saturday’s win will boost his ranking by nine places to No. 23.

Lehecka will play Carreno Busta of Spain in the first round of the Australian Open while Draper will play Tiafoe of the United States.

Former French Open champion Ostapenko tuned up for the Australian Open with an impressive straight-sets victory in 74 minutes against last year’s finalist Kasatkina.

Her first title on hard courts since Dubai in 2002 marked her return to the top 10 for the first time in five years in what has been a perfect lead-up to the Australian Open starting Sunday.

The Latvian player powered 32 winners to Kasatkina’s 12 and made decisive breaks in each set, which kept Kasatkina constantly on the back foot.

Kasatkina had advanced to the final after second-seeded Badosa withdrew with a gastrointestinal illness. It was the second consecutive walkover for Kasatkina, after Stephens withdrew ahead of their quarterfinal due to a left leg injury.

The 26-year-old Ostapenko is seeded No. 11 for the Australian Open in Melbourne and will play wild card Sharma in the first round. Ostapenko reached the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park last year.

Kasatkina is the No. 14 seed and will play No. 48 Gauff of the United States in the first round.