Czech Jiří Lehečka managed to take a set from Andrej Rubljov, but in the end he lost to the world’s eighth 6:4, 6:7, 2:6 in the tournament in Belgrade.
The 20-year-old Czech, the 93rd player in the ATP rankings, matched favorites Russia, picking up serve in the seventh game and winning the first set 6-4 when she converted a third set point.
In the second set, both opponents held serve, but in the tie-break, Rublyov clearly dominated, leaving the opponent with just one point. Even the decisive set was played according to Russian records. Lehečka lost her serve in the first game, and at 1:3 minute the favorite took it again. Then ech avoided the match point with his own serve, but soon after two hours and nine minutes, the tournament duo ended the duel with clear play.
As such, Lehček’s biggest win on the ATP circuit remains February’s win over the then world’s twelfth player, Denis Shapovalov of Canada, in the tournament in Rotterdam, where the Czech talent eventually reached the semi-finals.
Rublyov confirmed his fine form and scored his twentieth win of the year. Only Stefanos Tsitsipas (21) Greece has had more success this season. Twenty victories were also recorded by Spaniard Rafael Nadal and Taylor Fritz of America.
Svrčina defender is in the quarterfinals
Defending champion Dalibor Svrčina advances to the quarter-finals at tennis challenger TK Sparta Prague Open. The Czech beat Ukraine’s Oleksije Krutych, who qualified for the competition, 6:3 and 6:4 on clay in Stromovka in the second round.
Nineteen-year-old Svrčina started the match losing serve, but turned things around and won the match in one hour 17 minutes. Together last year, he won at Sparta seven times in a row.
Half of the eight quarter-finalists are domestic players. Friday’s program kicks off at 11:00 Jonáš Forejtek with Austria’s Sebastian Ofner, Tomáš Macháč and Lukáš Rosol set to compete in the derby, and Svrčina will then face Italy’s Lorenzo Giustino.
Men’s tennis tournament in Belgrade (clay, subsidy 597,900 euros):
Single – 2nd round: Rublyov (2-Rus.) – Light (Czech Republic) 4:6, 7:6 (7:1), 6:2, Otte (Germany) – Karatsev (4-Russia) 6:7 (4:7), 6:1, 6 :3 , Fognini (6-It.) – Bedene (Slovenia) 6:2, 6:3.
Prague Open tennis challenger (clay, 45,730 euros subsidy):
Single – 2nd round: Seizures (CZ) – Krutych (Ukraine) 6:3, 6:4.
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