06.06.2023 09:53:45 | The PROSTĚJOV Arena will host a literally star-studded programme of UniCredit Czech Open today, starting at 10 a.m. Last night it rained in Prostějov, the retractable roof had to be used for the first time on Monday. The crowd saw Dalibor Svrčina, the home team’s player and last year's finalist, advance to the 1/8 round. Tuesday's programme will be opened by 17-year-old Jakub Mensik who recently won his first challenger at Sparta in Prague. He is ranked 240th in the ATP and received a wild card to play in Prostejov.
Menšík is to face 20-year-old Nicolas Ionel of Romania who is ranked just below the top 200. After them, another wild-card holder and the top seeded player Jiří Lehečka will enter the tournament scene. The first priority for this member of TK AGROFERT Prostějov was the play at Roland Garros in Paris where he defeated Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany in five sets in the first round, but then got knocked out by the American Marcos Giron in the second round. "We naturally wished Jirka would remain in Paris as long as possible. As it didn't work out, we gave him a wild card and the opportunity to battle on home courts for the championship title. Thanks to his presence, all the top players from the home team will come and play, which is exactly what we wanted," says the tournament director Petra Černošková in reference to the participation of the 40th ATP player.
Lehečka wanted to play at the UniCredit Czech Open which was why he had to give up playing doubles at the French Open. It would make his transfer to Prostějov virtually impossible. "We appreciate it. The prize money for doubles in Paris is bigger than that for winning the singles title in Prostejov. However, Lehecka preferred to play before the home crowd. It is quite telling about his mindset and relationship to our club," said Miroslav Černošek who appreciated the best Czech tennis player’s approach. How about Jiří Lehečka? The quarter-finalist of this year's Australian Open will be one of the favourites for winning the tournament title and hopes to succeed. "I have always wished to be named this tournament champions' board one day. When I was given the opportunity I didn't hesitate for a sec. I believe I will be able to make it all the way through to the Saturday's final," he said. We should only add that this is what the entire crowd at Prostejov tournament desire. Who will Jiří Lehečka face in today’s second match on the Centre Court? Dominican Nick Hardt is ranked 222nd in the ATP rankings. He also tried his luck at Roland Garros in Paris at which he lost to Aslan Karatsev of Russia in the second qualification round.
