2016 Auckland winner Roberto Bautista Agut added a second title at the ASB Classic. The World No.21 defeated 2009 titlist Juan Martin Del Potro 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 to complete his preparations for the Australian Open, which begins Monday.
Bautista Agut played a strong first set. The Spaniard withstood a fast start from Del Potro, saving a break point in the opening game. Bautista Agut then managed to break himself, earning the 2-0 love lead.
Del Potro after the promising opening game, managed to break at the second time of asking. The Argentine continued to struggle on serve though, and was broken again, Bautista Agut rattling off five games in a row to take the first with surprising ease.
Del Potro slowly grew in confidence with a pair of holds to start the second. Bautista Agut was maintaining a high level of play, anchored by a first serve percentage that at one point climbed to 80%. There was always a degree of pressure on the Spaniard however, who served from behind in the second. This eventually proved critical as Del Potro made his move in game nine. The Argentine drew a backhand error from the Spaniard on the single break point of the set to level the match.
The third set proved as tight an affair as the second. Neither man yielded a break point through the first ten games. It was Del Potro though, who blinked. The Argentine fell behind 15-40 in game eleven, and Bautista Agut took the second chance to serve for the match.
The Spaniard overcame a typically spirited effort from Del Potro, who earned a break point, to hold serve and win.
The ASB Classic marked a strong week for both players, and showcases their strong form ahead of the Australian Open.
Del Potro, seeded 12th, starts against Frances Tiafoe in a tough first round match. Bautista Agut similarly faces a tough opponent in former Australian Open semi-finalist and compatriot Fernando Verdasco.
