Jack Draper from Britain was unable to secure his first ATP Tour title as he was defeated by Jiri Lehecka in the final of the Adelaide International. Despite a strong performance in last season’s Sofia final, where he was defeated by experienced French player Adrian Mannarino, 22-year-old Draper could not maintain a good start against Lehecka and ultimately lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. It has been a successful week for Draper in Australia, but he was unable to clinch the title.
As the end approached, he appeared more fatigued and will have to bounce back quickly before facing American player Marcos Giron in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday.
Draper congratulated Lehecka on the court, stating, “You achieved your first title. I was aiming for the same today, but you were the superior player and deserve it. Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to play more exceptional tennis in upcoming big finals.”
The main uncertainty regarding Draper’s potential for reaching the pinnacle of the sport lies in his physical condition. Last season, his advancement was hindered by a series of injuries. However, his multitude of skills were evident in the first set against his 22-year-old opponent. Draper managed to break Lehecka’s serve without losing a single point in the seventh game.
The Czech player, known for their clean shots, made it to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in the previous year. They were struggling in the second set, but managed to make a spectacular volley shot at 4-4 0-30 and then capitalized on a tense game from Draper to tie the score.
The fourth-ranked British player grew increasingly agitated at the beginning of the final set, throwing his racket and shouting into his towel after losing serve once more. He missed three opportunities to break back and ultimately, it was Lehecka who claimed his first ATP Tour championship.
Unfortunately, Draper’s Davis Cup colleague Joe Salisbury was unable to secure a trophy. However, he and his partner Rajeev Ram, representing the United States, did manage to claim the doubles title in a close match against Rohan Bopanna and Matt Ebden of India and Australia.
