History in Adelaide: Lucky loser Kwon becomes first Korean to win multiple ATP singles titles
The Korean upset fourth seed Roberto Bautista Agut in three tight sets to win his second career singles title at the Adelaide International
Soonwoo Kwon at the 2022 Japan Open Tennis Championships
Image Credit: AF / Panoramic
Lucky loser SoonWoo Kwon came from a break down in the final set to upset fourth seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut and win the ATP Adelaide International 2 trophy at Memorial Drive Tennis Centre on Saturday.
Kwon took two hours and 43 minutes to battle past the Spanish veteran 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4) for his second career ATP singles title.
In the process, Kwon becomes the first Koren player to win multiple ATP singles title, breaking the tie he had with Hyung-Taik Lee, who won the Sydney title in 2003.
Kwon first lucky loser to win an ATP singles title since 2018
The 25-year-old Kwon is also the first lucky loser to reach, and then also win, the final in Adelaide and the first lucky loser to win an ATP singles title since Marco Cecchinato in Budapest in 2018.
Earlier in the week, Kwon, ranked No 84, beat Czech qualifier Tomas Machac (6-4, 6-4), Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, the second seed (3-6, 6-4, 6-4), Swede qualifier Mikael Ymer (6-1, 6-2) and Jack Draper (7-6 (6), 6-7 (2), 6-3).
Meanwhile, Bautista Agut, ranked No 26 in the world, defeated Dutch lucky loser Robin Haase (6-3, 3-6, 6-3), No 7 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (6-3, 6-2) and Australian wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis (7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-3) in previous rounds.
Kwon will head to Melbourne full of confidence and will meet American wildcard Christopher Eubanks in his first round match at the Australian Open while Bautista Agut takes on Joao Sousa in his opening round.
People in this post
More tennis news
Tien beats Mensik in five-set thriller to successful Next Gen ATP Finals debut
Next Gen ATP Finals: Michelsen battles past Basavareddy in four sets
“The Big 4 managed to get the maximum out of me,” says Tomas Berdych as he gets involved in tennis again
Van Assche beats Shang in four sets in Next Gen ATP Finals opener
Halep gets qualifying wildcard for Australian Open
