Llodra tames Nieminen to win final edition of Adelaide

The tournament - second oldest in the country after Sydney - has been sacrificed along with a women's event on the Gold Coast as Tennis Australia points the ATP and WTA to a new combined event next year in Brisbane at a tennis park yet to be completed.

 Llodra put his name down as last winner in Adelaide after losing a  final at Memorial Drive four years ago to Dominik Hrbaty.

 The Frenchman who left his young family, including a four-month-old  son, back home wintery Paris, added Adelaide to a Dutch trophy from  2004.

 The titleholder, a three-time Grand Slam doubles champion, only got  into the singles draw when countrymen Richard Gasquet withdrew before the start with a knee injury.

 Llodra won without losing serve all week. He levelled at 1-1 against Nieminen after losing to the Finn in Stockholm.

 "I first played here ten years ago and lost my first final here," said the 93rd-ranked Llodra. "I'm so glad to have finally been able to win.

 "Jarkko was a great opponent and made it tough for me. I'm even not  complaining about the weather - it's zero at home in Paris."

   Nieminen, seeded third, was unable to get past the varied Llodra game, with the unseeded Frenchman attacking from all corners of the court.

 "Michael had a great week," said Nieminen, who must resume Finnish  army training after his Australian Open ends. "I had a great week - but not a perfect one.

 "It's always nice to start the year here. It's a pity that I can't  come back next year, but we will be moving onto Brisbane.

 "It's been great to play here for so many years - and I have to thank the Finnish army for letting me play here."

   Nieminen spent six weeks of the off-seaosn fulfilling his obligatory training with a few weeks to go for him in February.

 The Finn saved six break points in a tight 14-minute opening game of the second set which went to nine deuces before he finally held, but Llodra got his winning break in the third game on the way to victory.

 The contest was the first all-left handed final on the ATP since the 2005 Roland Garros final between Rafael Nadal and Mariano Puerta.