Jiri Lehecka and Jack Draper will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers and both will be seeking their first ATP title when they collide in the Adelaide International final on Saturday afternoon.
Each man is 0-1 lifetime in ATP finals. Lehecka finished runner-up at the Winston-Salem tournament last summer, losing to Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-4. Draper came up one match short on the indoor hard courts of Sofia in 2023, getting beaten by Adrian Mannarino 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-3.
The similarities don’t end there, as both guys have dropped just one set en route to the Adelaide championship match. Lehecka has defeated Adam Walton, Dusan Lajovic, Nicolas Jarry, and Sebastian Korda, surrendering just one set to Lajovic along the way. Draper survived a 5-7, 7-6(9), 7-6(7) second-round thriller against Miomir Kecmanovic after three hours and 40 minutes, but the British lefty has otherwise cruised. His week also includes victories over Baez (6-1, 6-3), top seed Tommy Paul (6-1, 6-4), and Alexander Bublik (7-6(2), 6-4).
As those scores suggest, Draper has been the best player in Adelaide. That isn’t a surprise, either, as injuries are the only thing that has held him back in the early stages of his career. When healthy, the world No. 62 is a top-10 talent.
Lehecka’s game is far more up-and-down. Especially when you factor in the pressure of an ATP final, the more consistent, reliable performer is the safer choice.
Pick: Draper in 3
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