Overview
- Third seed Jakub Mensik won the Auckland ATP 250 final 6-3, 7-6 (7), firing 18 aces and fending off three set points in the tiebreak.
- The 20-year-old Czech secured his second ATP Tour title and enters Melbourne ranked No. 18.
- He dominated a 31-minute first set with 11 aces, was broken for the first time when serving at 6-5 in the second, then rallied from 3-6 down in the breaker.
- Baez reached the final after a strong week that included a quarterfinal upset of top seed Ben Shelton.
- In Melbourne, Baez draws Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round.