2024-05-03 20:05:11
He became the first Czech in the semifinals of Masters 1000 tournaments since 2015. In the live ranking, he came within reach of the top twenty in the world. Jiří Lehečka recorded his third win over a player in the elite ten, and his performances and gentlemanly behavior are receiving warm feedback from the world of tennis.
Watch the clip of the match between Jiří Lehečka and Daniil Medvedev. | Video: Associated Press
His star shines brighter and brighter. After all, in the current ranking, which only takes into account the results of this season, he is the sixteenth best tennis player on the planet.
Jiří Lehečka is developing, improving and becoming more and more dangerous.
During Madrid’s run to the biggest semi-final of his career, world experts and the media are paying more and more attention to his potential.
Tennis Majors magazine called his performance in the previous round against Rafael Nadal “spectacular”.
Eurosport again reported on the “shocking” victory. Not primarily because of the opponent’s name. Due to his gradual return to form after a long injury, Nadal was not such a clear favorite, but the dominant way in which Leheček dominated the difficult duel really met the strictest standards.
“A fantastic duel was played. And in the end it was Lehečka who delivered more power and consistency. He gave an all-round, brilliant performance,” described the game of the 22-year-old tennis player from Kněžmost on the Tennis.com server.
The famous American Jim Courier spoke with respect about his extraordinary firepower, relatively rarely combined with skill and a stable mental side.
At a completely new level of self-confidence and with obvious determination, the Czech entered Thursday’s quarter-finals against world number four Daniil Medvedev. He won the first set, but the Russian favorite was injured during it and did not start the second set.
“It’s crazy to win the match in such a way. But it goes without saying that I wanted to advance. Honestly, before the match I had a lot of confidence, I had a clear tactic prepared for Daniil. I started at a good level, but he got injured and then it was completely different match,” Lehečka confided in an interview with Sky Sports.
He once again gave a great service performance. Medvedev did not allow a single break point.
Before that, he did not lose serve even against Nadal and in the first match against the Serbian Hamad Medjedovic. So far, he has not lost a set in the entire tournament and lost only one game on his serve, in the third round against Brazilian Thiago Monteiro.
“I’m very happy to be in the semi-finals. Hard work pays off,” he boasted.
Enthusiastic reactions are also aimed at his behavior.
Even after Nadal, people were talking about how gracefully he handled the slightly unfortunate decision of the organizers, who after the victory left him sitting on the bench for tens of minutes after midnight and watching the farewell to the local icon.
When they finally invited him to the interview, people were already streaming home from the stands.
Now Leheček made a gesture towards the injured Medvedev. He first personally consoled the Russian and wrote a single message on the camera as he left the court: “Get well soon, Daniil.”
“I’m sorry. I wish Daniil all the best and I hope he’ll be well soon so he can play again,” he said in an interview afterwards.
Jiri Lehecka signs the camera after advancing to his first Masters SF in Madrid:
“Get well soon Daniil.”
Classy. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5dpTTzz4K0
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 2, 2024
Lehečka reached the semi-finals for the fifth time on the ATP circuit, but he was never among the top four at such a big event.
At the Masters 1000, he is the first Czech semi-finalist since a member of his coaching team, Tomáš Berdych, who was similarly successful last time in 2015 in Madrid.
In the fight for the final, which may be his third overall and his first on clay, the Czech tennis player will face Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassim on Friday evening.
“Felix is an excellent player and, as we can see, he is finding his best form again. His forehand works excellently. It will be a tough duel, I will try to rest and see,” said Lehečka in the address of the twenty-three-year-old tennis player, who was already ranked sixth in the world, after a drop in form but currently figures in the fourth ten.
This is also why the Czech tennis player is considered a slight favorite.
American Taylor Fritz and Russian Andrei Rublev will play the second semi-final in Madrid.