Italian teenager Jannik Sinner won his second consecutive ATP title after Dan Evans broke through for his first earlier on Sunday at Melbourne Park.
The two men won ATP 250 level titles as part of the Melbourne Summer Series, with Sinner sealing a straight-sets victory over countryman Stefano Travaglia to win the Great Ocean Road Open, and Evans taking out the Murray River Open title.
It was the 30-year-old Briton’s first career ATP crown after losses in two previous finals, in a pro career dating back to 2006.
His 6-2 6-3 win came over Canadian rising star Felix Auger-Aliassime, who fell to 0-7 in ATP Finals.
“Obviously it's been the last two finals, so it was good to get over the line,” said Evans, who lost in the Sydney final in 2017 and the Delray Beach final in 2019.
“If I'm being honest, I didn't have a great two weeks' practice. It seemed the start of this week, I really set in stone that I would get back to what I was good at, and it really reinforced my game style and my game plan, and I never really wavered from that.
“I think the last three matches I really put my game on the court and was decisive on how I was going to play, made clear decisions, and to come forward and be aggressive.”
Auger-Aliassime, who had not won a set in any of his six previous tour-level finals, was never able to settle and use his weapons to full effect, spraying 17 errors to Evans’ four in the opening set.
Evans played tactically astute tennis, varying up his play against a nervous opponent and capitalising on anything short, often closing on the net to finish points.
He broke serve early in the second, extended his lead to 4-2 with a searing forehand passing shot winner, and broke again in the next game after advancing to net and forcing an error from the Canadian.
There was a slight wobble when serving for the title; Evans botched an overhead and then double faulted to drop serve.
But in the next game, he quickly spotted a short, floating ball off Auger-Aliassime’s racquet, charged forward, and knocked off a forehand volley winner to secure his first tournament title.
It was a closer affair on Court 3 between the two Italians in the Great Ocean Road Open final.
Fourth seed Sinner, who won his final tournament of 2020 in Sofia, fell behind 3-1 against world No.71 Travaglia before winning the next three straight games to get back into the contest.
After Sinner snatched the first set in a tiebreak, the two men traded five service breaks during a tight second set in which the majority of games extended to deuce.
After letting slip a 3-1 lead and fighting off a break point which would have seen him fall behind 3-1, Sinner steadied.
He earned a break point in the ninth game, converted it when Travaglia sent a forehand wide, and served out the final game without conceding a point, winning 7-6(4) 6-4.
The 19-year-old, at a career-high ranking of 36th, has now won 10 consecutive matches.
“I don't think that much about that I've won the last five matches from the last year,” said Sinner, who opens his Australian Open campaign on Monday against No.11 seed Denis Shapovalov.
“There have been very great moments from last year, which obviously I take with me.
“But you know, this is not only about winning. Sometimes losing matches, important matches can help you maybe even more, especially when you are young. I think I've done that very good in the last year.
“Obviously the confidence is here. Second ATP title, and this one is a bit different. Tough situations, tough week for every player, playing twice in one day. Yesterday I had a tough match against Karen (Khachanov in the semis).
“So today I'm very happy about my performance."