Jiří Leheček beat former world number one Rafael Nadal from Spain 7:5, 6:4 in the first match on clay in Madrid and advanced to the quarterfinals.
The twenty-two-year-old Czech tennis player will face Daniil Medvedev from Russia, the fourth player in the world ranking, for the first semi-final in the Masters category.
In the 4th round against one of the best tennis players in history, who will probably end his stellar career this year, Lehečka delivered a supreme and focused performance. He played 33 winning balls, including seven aces, and allowed the phenomenal Spanish clay player to only one break point, which he saved.
In this year’s clay premiere, the Czech number one has not yet lost a set and will play the second quarter-final at the Masters after the March tournament in Indian Wells.
Thirty-seven-year-old Nadal, who has triumphed five times in the past in Madrid, played only the third tournament this year, in which he returned to the courts after a one-year break. The twenty-two-time Grand Slam champion, who is hampered by health problems and is currently ranked 512th, has not yet officially confirmed his start at Roland Garros.
In the first set, the players held serve until 5:5 without any major problems. After that, Nadal offered Leheček three break points with three errors in a row, and the native of Mladá Boleslav took advantage of the first one at the net. Subsequently, the excellently serving Czech tennis player confirmed another clean game break and won the first set.
Lehečka was almost infallible at the net, and even his famous opponent had to applaud his precisely executed challenging half-volley in the twelfth game.
The best Czech tennis player didn’t leave his composure even in the second set, and in the first game he immediately took the tennis legend’s serve again.
After confirming the break, Lehečka had the opportunity to deny Nadal’s serve again in the third game, but the 14-time Roland Garros winner defended the serve in a marathon game with six matches and three Lehečka break points.
The next games didn’t bring any more drama. The 30th-seeded Czech guarded his serve and did not hesitate even in the final tenth game, when the sold-out stadium chased Nadal for a reversal attempt. Lehečka, however, earned two match points with another successful service-volley exchange, and after Nadal sent the ball out with a backhand, he could celebrate one of the most valuable victories of his still-starting career.
After the match, the Czech player watched the touching farewell of the legend from the bench, because in Madrid Nadal most likely presented himself for the last time.
Tennis tournament for men and women in Madrid (clay):
Men (subsidy 9,249,713 euros):
Singles – 4th round:
Lightweight (30-CR) – Nadal (SP) 7:5, 6:4.
2024-04-30 22:13:03
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