Jiri Vesely wasn’t happy when he first got to Auckland when he found he had to play qualifying.
But the 21-year-old Czech leaves New Zealand a much happier man, having snared his first ATP Tour title after a 6-3 6-2 win over Adrian Mannarino of France.
In doing so he impressed many, especially with his serve, and he looked like a man destined for more titles.
Vesely arrived in Auckland with a world ranking of 63, one spot outside direct entry to the tournament. If organisers had known on Saturday that David Ferrer and Tommy Robredo wouldn’t be able to play, Vesely wouldn’t have needed to play qualifying.
“I was kind of frustrated I didn’t get in. I really was hoping that someone would pull out but no one has,” he said.
But with every game, Vesely impressed. In his last qualifying game he beat Lucas Pouille, who would subsequently make the semi-finals after entering the tournament as a lucky loser.
Once in the main draw, he would beat world number 13 Ernests Gulbis – the only man to take a set from him – and world number 16 Kevin Anderson.
“After I beat Gulbis I said to myself `this is something special you have achieved’. It was my first win against a guy in the top 20,” he said.
“I can really see that it’s possible to play with the best guys, and that’s something that’s very important for me to the future.”
Vesely started nervously, losing his opening service game, but Mannarino couldn’t take advantage and the Czech broke back in the fourth game and again in the eighth game.
Mannarino couldn’t get his game going in the second set and with Vesely’s serve improving to unstoppable levels, even a rain delay with the score at 5-1 didn’t have him too worried.
“I was happy to be able to finish the match and finish with an ace. It’s the end of a dream.”
Mannarino, 26, cut a disconsolate figure in the after-match press conference, unhappy he hadn’t coped with the pressure of his first ATP Tour final.
“I’m just really upset by the way I’ve played, but I guess in a few days I’ll realise it was a really good week for me,” he said.
“I don’t know what I should do, maybe drink a little bit and just try to forget this.”
