AN all-Italian final and a battle of uncapped players 10 years apart are what the last matches look like in the ATP 250 events ahead of the Australian Open.

An all-Italian final will take place in the Great Ocean Road Open after Jannik Sinner and Stefano Travaglia won their respective semi-finals. In the blockbuster battle of the top four seeds, Sinner ousted second seed Russian Karen Khachanov, 7-6 4-6 7-6 in an epic match that lasted three hours and seven minutes.

Both tiebreakers went 7-4, and neither player was willing to give an inch across the match, serving at above 60 per cent efficiency. Sinner was more successful off his first serve, winning 68 per cent of his points and producing 10 aces compared to Khachanov’s 60 per cent and six aces. The Russian was making sure to create plenty of opportunities though, opening up a whopping 17 break point chances, but only being able to take five. It was still one more than his young opponent who capitalised on four from 12. Overall Sinner was the more consistent of the two, but it was as tight as a match could be, preparing both players for a massive Australian Open.

While Sinner won his first title last year, his 29-year-old compatriot Travaglia is yet to taste success in 12 years on Tour. The 71st ranked player who will now emerge post-tournament above his career-high of 70th, won through thanks to a straight sets win over Brazilian Thiago Monteiro. Travaglia won 6-3 6-4 in an hour and 25 minutes to book his spot in the final, winning an elite 79 per cent of his first serve points, and breaking his opponent three times to one in a dominant serving performance from both players.

The final will take place from 2pm today.

GREAT OCEAN ROAD OPEN SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:

[4] Jannik Sinner (ITA) defeated [2] Karen Khachanov (RUS) 7-6 4-6 7-6
Stefano Travaglia (ITA) defeated Thiago Monteiro (BRA) 6-3 6-4

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Unlike the Italians in the Great Ocean Road Open semis, the French pair at the Murray River Open could not have the same luck, both bowing out in disappointing defeats. Corentin Moutet lost to third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, while experienced Frenchman Jeremy Chardy went down 6-2 6-2 to eighth seed Brit Daniel Evans. In Chardy’s defence, he had two other doubles matches straight after his singles as the tournament condensed its scheduling to fit everything in prior to the Australian Open.

With the loss of Chardy, it means a first-time ATP Tour title winner will be announced, with 30-year-old Evans a feel-good story if he could do it. A career-high of 28 in the world almost 12 months ago, Evans is yet to win a title despite battling away for 14 years on Tour. He needed just one hour to defeat Chardy in straight sets, forcing four breaks and not facing a break point himself to win through to the final.

At the opposite end of the age scale to Evans is 20-year-old Auger-Aliassime, with the Canadian yet to win a title despite coming close on a number of occasions. Post-tournament he is expected to go past his career-high of 17th in the world 18 months ago, with the 21st ranked third seed putting Moutet to the sword in the straight sets demolition, 6-1 6-2. He served eight aces to none and only dropped two points off his first serve, and four off his second – two of which were double faults – meaning he only lost a meagre four points in play during his service games.

Auger-Aliassime will head in as favourite, but the two contrasting styles of big server and counter puncher will clash in the final.

MURRAY RIVER OPEN SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:

[3] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) defeated Corentin Moutet (FRA) 6-1 6-2
[8] Daniel Evans (GBR) defeated Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-2 6-2

Picture credit: Getty Images