Bautista Agut lifts ASB Classic crown

Auckland - The Spanish player swept through the first set in only 31 minutes

Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut beat former champion Juan Martin de Potro 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 on Saturday to win the ATP Tour's ASB Classic for the second time in three years.
Fifth-seed Bautista Agut, who won the title in 2016, outlasted second-seed Del Potro, the 2009 champion, in a match of remarkable highs and lows.
The Spanish player swept through the first set in only 31 minutes as Del Potro seemed to struggle in warm conditions on a packed center court. But Del Potro took advantage of the only break point of the second set to level the match.
The advantage in the third set went one way then the other until Bautista Agut broke del Potro to lead 6-5, then saved a break point to win the match in 2 hours, 7 minutes.
Later, an emotional Bautista Agut dedicated his victory to his family in Spain.
"It feels wonderful," he said. "It was an unbelievable match today. I've been fighting a lot on the court and I couldn't believe I was playing my best tennis.
"Today I felt really good on the court and I played very good tennis throughout the match. Juan Martin is a great champion, he's very tough to beat and I played two amazing games in the last two games of the match."
Del Potro said he found it difficult to play in humid condition in the daytime Saturday after playing his previous matches at night.