Lehečka Through to Q-finals After Excellent Performance

09.09.2020 14:36:38 | Jiří Lehečka did not start the match well. Nikola Milojevic of Serbia (ATP 145) is a more experienced player and had more confidence at the beginning. The Serbian was leading 3:1, 5:3 and it seemed would win the first set. However, Lehečka became more courageous and won three games in a row and took the lead to 6:5. Milojevič leveled up but the young Czech took advantage of his serve and won the tiebreak 7:4. His coach Michal Navrátil’s words from before the match proved right: “If Jiří plays courageously and pushes him he’ll stand a chance.”

That was exactly the case in the second set: Lehečka was leading 3:0 and was close to converting to 4:0. However, Milojevic refused to capitulate and leveled the match 3:3. Lehečka’s big serve helped him to increase the score to 5:3 which got the Serbian under pressure and made him lose his serve to 6:3. Lehečka is about to achieve his greatest success at MONETA Czech Open, he has reached the quarter final!

What did Lehečka have to say after the match? “I didn’t play well at the beginning but I managed to rose up and improve, which was demonstrated in the first set tiebreak. All went well at the beginning of the second set. I was leading 3:0, but then a little problem with my left hand slowed me down. I fortunately managed to get back into the playing rhythm,” said Lehečka with reference to the match. “The opponent was very tough. He didn’t make mistakes and could keep the ball in play. I had to go for it, try to hit winners and win points one after another,” said Lehečka.

What did the coach of Czech juniors Michal Navrátil have to say? “What decided important moments? Jirka is increasingly confident. He already has enough experience and is one of those who can learn from their losses. He was leading 3:0 in the second set. He could lead 4:0 but a single point decided and took the match to 3:3. I know many players who would not rise again, but he did.”