Czechmates.
Saturday was a day for them, to make certain.
Tomas Machac battled previous Ugo Humbert 6-4 6-7 6-2 within the Adelaide remaining to hitch Jakub Mensik as ATP title winners on the identical day for the primary time since 1982, when Ivan Lendl and Tomas Smid gained titles on the identical day. It had solely occurred as soon as within the Open Period for the Czech males.
Make that twice.
Machac was sensible in a spirited affair towards Humbert, who threw every little thing he had into the ring however fell quick in a 3rd set as Machac pulled away to win his second ATP title. The 25-year-old will rise to No.24 in Monday’s ATP rankings on account of his title.
He defeated Tommy Paul in a barnburner within the semifinals, exhibiting off his physicality and excessive athleticism as he carried out like a future Prime-10 participant.
Time will inform on that observe. For now, Machac can take confidence into Melbourne, the place he’ll face Grigor Dimtrov in a extremely anticipated battle of unseeded males that must be seeded.
Humbert will face Ben Shelton in spherical one at Melbourne.
