World number 46 Lorenzo Sonego saved two match points to beat Yannick Hanfmann 7-5 2-6 7-6 (11-9) in 2 hours and 55 minutes in a thrilling match to reach the second round at the Adelaide International.
Both players earned a break point in the first two games of the first set. They went on serve until the 12th game, when Sonego rallied from 15-40 down to earn the first break to win the first set 7-5. Hanfmann broke serve in the first and fifth games to win the second set 6-2.
Hanfmann saved two break points in the fourth game to hold serve for 2-2. Sonego earned a mini-break to take a 5-3. Hanfmann won three consecutive points to earn a match point at 6-5. Sonego saved two match points at 5-6 and 7-8. Sonego earned the decisive mini-break at 9-9 to win the win the tie-break 11-9.
Sonego won his first match of the season after two defeats against Alexander Zverev and Adrian Mannarino at the United Cup.
Sonego set up a second round match against third seed Sebastian Korda.
Jiri Lehecka moved past Australian qualifier Adam Walton 6-1 6-3 in 71 minutes in their first head-to-head match. Lehecka, who reached the quarter finals at the Australian Open last year, broke three times in the first set 6-1. The Czech player broke serve in the fourth game before saving four break points to hold serve to take a 4-1 lead. Walton fended off four break points in the sixth game for 2-4. Lehechka served out the win on his first match point. Lehecka will face Dusan Lajovic in the second round.
Jordan Thompson beat Facundo Diaz Acosta 6-2 6-2 in 1 hour and 25 minutes. The Australian player set up a second round match against Lorenzo Musetti.
Matteo Arnaldi beat Spanish lucky loser Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-4 6-3 to set up a second round match against number 2 seed Nicolas Jarry.
Zapata Miralles went up a break twice in the third and seventh games. Arnaldi pulled back on serve both times to draw level to 4-4. Arnaldi converted his third set point on Zapata Miralles’ serve in the 10th game to seal the first set 6-4. Zapata Miralles saved two break points in the second game and one more chance in the the sixth game but did not earn any break points in the second set. Arnaldi earned his only break to love in the eighth game and served out the second set on his first match point.
