Ostapenko And Lehecka Champion At Adelaide International

JAKARTA - Latvian women's tennis player Jelena Ostapenko and Czech male tennis player Jiri Lehecka completed perfect preparations for the Australian Open by winning the WTA-ATP Adelaide International title.

Lehecka, who managed to rise from the first set of defeats to beat England's Jack Draper, won its first ATP tour title 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The sixth seed Ostappenko jumped back to the world's top 10 for the first time since 2018 after defeating Russian player Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-2 to claim the seventh WTA tour title.

He won the first set and broke service to start the second set, then took four match points to finish the game in 76 minutes.

"It's amazing, I've had some very difficult matches this week," former French Open champion Ostappenko said after earning his first title since Dubai in 2022, quoted by Antara from AFP on Sunday.

"I enjoy every moment playing here. I can't wait to come back, it's great to be in Australia."

England's Draper started well but levels began to decline as Lehecka took over in a two-hour eight-minute match.

"It's very emotional to win my first title here. I'm very excited," Lehecka said after a fight with the 22-year-old.

"It feels great, it's a dream come true for me. I've always wanted to win trophies, so it's even better when I win titles here in Adelaide."

"I'm happy for this win. It's a great way to start this year," said the 22-year-old.

Lehecka will rise three places to the highest ranking in his career, 23 in the world on Monday (15/1), and the win makes him the Czech tennis player who claims to have won ATP after Jiri Vesely in Pune in 2020.

"That's why I practice," said Draper.

"Jiri played an incredible tennis and won his first title, the same thing I tried to fight for."

"He deserved it, he's a better player today. It's my second year here and I'm going further than last year's semifinals."