Jiří Lehečka advanced to the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 in Shanghai on Saturday after defeating Portugal’s Nuno Borges 6:3, 3:6, 6:3, Tenis portál reported.
How Lehečka Controlled the Opening Set Against Borges
That momentum was immediately visible against Borges on the hard courts of Shanghai.
In the second game of the match, Lehečka broke an unsteady Borges serve and consolidated the break to jump out to a 3:0 lead. Borges struggled in prolonged baseline rallies during the opening frame, committing a string of unforced errors that allowed the Czech player to dictate play. He closed out the first set 3:3 in 33 minutes, winning 17 of 18 points behind his first delivery and striking four aces.
Borges Strikes Back in the Second Set
The second set saw a dramatic shift in concentration from the Portuguese player. Borges sharpened his service games and gave Lehečka no openings on return through the first five games.
The turning point arrived in the sixth game. Lehečka was forced to rely on his second serve more frequently than in the opener, and Borges capitalized immediately. Breaking for a 4:2 advantage, Borges then held to love to push his lead to 5:2, eventually closing out the set 6:3 with another clean service hold to force a decider.
A Quick Recovery and Decisive Finish in the Third Set
Any concerns of a collapse were quickly erased as Lehečka opened the third set with overwhelming force. Dropping just two points across the first two games, he raced to a 2:0 lead and consolidated the break with minimal trouble to lead 3:0.
Although Lehečka missed a chance to break again at 40:15 in the fourth game—allowing Borges to claw back to 1:3—the Czech star kept his composure. He maintained his break advantage through the remainder of the set, closing out the match 6:3 to punch his ticket to the next round.
Next Match Against Rafael Jódar in Shanghai
With the win over Borges secured, Lehečka turns his attention to the third round. Sport.cz and Deník report that his next opponent will be Spain’s Rafael Jódar, the world number 13 who advanced past Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante 4:6, 6:2, 6:3.
The match is scheduled for Monday at the Qi Zhong Tennis Center. Alongside Lehečka, fellow Czech Dalibor Svrčina also advanced to the third round in Shanghai following a grueling victory over Argentina’s Tomás Martín Etcheverry, setting up a clash with world number six Daniil Medvedev.
Keep reading
