The Czechs tried to forget the initial defeat against the Germans with the favored selection USA 1:4 and maintain a theoretical chance of advancement. Only the winners from the three-member group will advance to the next stage.
Twenty-one-year-old Lehečka claimed the second victory over a player from the top 20 in his career. He defeated world number 12 Zverev, who is returning from a serious ankle injury, in one hour and 33 minutes. Lehečka, a native of Mladoboleslav, did not lose serve even once in the first set and, on the contrary, “broke” the Olympic winner from Tokyo in the end at 5:4.
At the beginning of the second set, Leheček averted four break points and broke the remaining three serves of his opponent from 2:1. He also served five aces against the two-time winner of the Tournament of Champions.
“I knew he hadn’t played for a while, but with a player like him, that doesn’t mean anything. In key moments, I benefited from all the experience I gained last season,” Lehečka was quoted as saying by the AP agency.
Photo: Mark Baker, CTK/AP
Czech tennis player Marie Bouzková and her winning joy during the United Cup.Photo: Mark BakerČTK/AP
Leheček’s victory was followed by Bouzková, who beat Niemeier, the 65th player in the world, in less than two hours. The quarter-finalist of the last Wimbledon did not face a single break point for long, she only lost serve at 6:2 and 5:4. However, she successfully completed the second set as well and closed the match with a converted third match point.
The Czech triumph can be completed on Sunday night by Petra Kvitová, who will face the 177th player in the world Laura Siegemundová. Oscar Otte is waiting to replace the injured Tomáš Macháč Dalibor Svrčina. The mixed doubles will close the program.
The United Cup replaced the previous ATP Cup and followed the Hopman Cup with the format of duels of mixed teams. In addition to Sydney, the tournament is also held on hard surfaces in Brisbane and Perth. The total prize money is 15 million dollars, the tournament will also award points according to the ATP 500 and WTA 500 categories.
| Tennis United Cup – mixed team competition ($15 million endowment): |
|---|
| Group C: |
| Czechia – Germany 2:0 |
| Lehečka – Zverev 6:4, 6:2 |
| Bouzková – Niemeierová 6:2, 7:5. |
| Group E: |
| Brazil – Norway 2:0 |
| Meligeni Alves – Durasovic 6:3, 6:3 |
| Haddadová Maiaová – Helgová 6:4, 6:2. |
| Group A: |
| Bulgaria – Belgium 1:1 |
| Goffin – Dimitrov 4:6, 5:7 |
| Van Uytvancková – Šinikovová 6:1, 3:6, 6:3. |
