ASB Classic final: Jakub Mensik beats Sebastian Baez in straight sets for Auckland title

Up against an opponent who was at the top of his game and on a 7-0 run to start this year, Mensik was imperious. He raced through the first set – overpowering Baez on both wings – in 29 minutes.

Baez came back well in the next bracket. He produced some dazzling angles, then broke Mensik for the first time as he was serving for the set at 6-5.

That was a jolt and there was more, when Mensik found himself 6-3 down in the tiebreaker and staring at three set points.

But the European clawed his way back, before converting his second match point, as Baez sent a backhand long. Saturday was a battle of contrasting styles, between the all power game of the 1.96m Mensik and the more subtle approach of the diminutive 1.7m Argentinean, who had got past top seed Ben Shelton on his way to the final.

Baez had looked untouchable but that changed quickly on Saturday as he was under pressure on serve for most of the first set. He fought off a couple of early breaks but was unable to do the same at 2-3, with the power of the Mensik groundstrokes limiting his time.

In contrast, Mensik was untroubled, shown in the one game when he served four consecutive aces. He quickly wrapped up the opening set, converting the first of his set points with an almost insouciant volley.

Baez was trying everything – with a rally of almost 25 strokes early in the second set – and scrambling beautifully, shown with an audacious forehand passing shot on the run in the fifth game, lifting the crowd to their feet.

But it felt like pushing sand uphill; Baez would work so hard to get a foothold on the Mensik serve, before that advantage quickly caved in as his opponent unleashed a couple of bombs.

But the South American never stopped trying – reaching a new level in the latter stages of the second set as he produced some extraordinary angles.

But Mensik didn’t blink. Baez showed signs of cracking, with consecutive double faults in the 11th game. He rescued that situation but couldn’t escape trouble, broken for 5-6 after Mensik produced an unreturnable, skidding backhand.

But for the first time, serving for the match, Mensik wobbled. He found himself at 15-40 before a Baez lob that defied physics helped convert the break.

Baez had momentum and sprung to an early lead in the breaker, before a peach of a drop shot took him to 6-3. Mensik then had his moment, with an improbable half volley – his racquet clunking the ground – to save the first set before two big serves. Baez then put a volley wide at 6-6, one he would normally make, and that was the beginning of the end.

More to come

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