07.06.2023 10:32:07 | The thirtieth edition of the UniCredit Czech Open is nearing its halfway point, the singles players are battling for a spot in the quarter-finals and the doubles pairs are fighting for the semi-finals. What programme does the Central Court offer today? Starting at 10:30, Jakub Menšík will face third-seeded Argentine Facundo Bagnis (124th ATP), a tough clay court player whose best ATP ranking was 55th.
They will be followed by Jiří Lehečka vs. the Dutchman Jelle Sels (169th ATP). The greatest success for Czech player at the Prostějov Czech Open was his appearance in 2020 semi-finals in which he lost to the later champion Majchrzak of Poland. What has remained unchanged? "Winning this tournament is my dream. Every time I look at the list of winners on the wall of the hotel in Prostějov, I always wish to be among them. So, if I ever play in Prostějov, I will be very motivated," said Lehečka before the tournament.
The third player to appear on Centre Court is the great fighter Dalibor Svrčina who will meet the seventh-seeded Elias Ymer of Sweden (155th ATP). The latter was already just outside the top 100, at 105th ATP. The match between the qualifier Hynek Bartoň and Dimitar Kuzman of Bulgaria (208th ATP) will surely be of great interest too. Bartoň stunned many by ousting the eight seed, Flavio Cobolli of Italy (159th ATP) in the first round. Let alone he will appear in the main draw at an ATP Challenger Tour for the first time. “Cobolli is a great player, he also played in Paris. I always try to do my very best in such matches."
The Czech tennis team has four chances today in singles on the Centre Court. How many of them will be converted into success?
Tomáš Macháč, the fifth seed, will appear in the second match on court No. 1. Everybody was looking forward to the Czech derby against Vít Kopřiva, but the Czech player has lost to the Valkusz of Hungary. Macháč broke his sad streak of four defeats yesterday and everyone believes he will outplay the tenacious qualifier and advance to the quarterfinals. Up to five Czechs can make it among the last eight: Lehečka, Menšík, Bartoň, Svrčina or Macháč.... There really is a big chance!
