Jessica Pegula remained upbeat about her preparations for the Australian Open despite being upset by Madison Keys in the Adelaide International final on Saturday. (More Sports News)
Pegula was beaten 6-3 4-6 6-1 in the all-American showpiece, as Keys, who won the Adelaide title in 2022, claimed her ninth WTA cro𒆙wn after a one hour and 43 minute battle.
Keys took the opening set but needed an off-court medical timeout after losing the first three g🦩ames of the second, returning with her left leg strapped up.
P�𒅌�egula went on to take the set and force a decider, but Keys responded well in the third, winning the last five games in a row, ending the match with 10 aces and 26 winners.
World number seven Pegula acknowledg🐲ed she was outplayed by Keys, but was happy with her display ahead of her first round clash against Maya Joint at Melbourne Park.
"I had like, three winners, it was tough," she said. "Maddie hits the ball harder than anyone, she play꧟ed some amazing tennis.
"Thi🥃s was a good week to start the season for me. I'm excited to keep it going into Melbourne."
Keys, meanwhile, will take ꦯon fellow American Ann Li in her opening match at the Australian Open, with her latest victory setting her up nicely for a strong run in the tournament.
In the 🔴men's singles final in Adelaide, Felix Auger-Aliassime captured his first outdoor ATP title after beating American Sebastian Korda.
Auger-Aliassime managed to withstand a rally from his opponent in the second set to c🌜omfortably win the decider in just 26 minutes to triumph 6-3 3-6 6-1.
The Canadian ended the contest with 10 aces to his oppoඣnents' seven, while also winning 83% of his first-serve points, which proved to be the difference in the contest.
After fallin🎃g behind in the opening set, Korda tradꦯed blows with Auger-Aliassime in the second, eventually finding a break in the eighth game to take the match the distance.
But Auger-Aliassime showcased his class in the decider, earning an earl🐟y break i🐻n the second game before serving out a love game to seal the victory.
Auger-Aliassime faces Jan-Lennard Struff in his first round tie at the Australian Open, while Korda will be looking🦄 to respond against Lukas K🥂lein in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, at the Hobart International, M🐓cCartney Kessler powered to a second career title after beating second seed Elise Mertens on her debut in the tournament.
Kessler emerged a 6-4 3-6 6-0 victor ovಞer her Belgian opponent in two hours and 12 minutes, ending the encounter with an impressive 44 winners.
The pair now head to the Australian Open which begins on Sunday, with Kessler facing Zhang Shuai, while Mertens takes on Swiss qualifier Viktorija Golubic in the first ⛄ro💞und.
