Match Report
Lehecka stuns Medvedev in Cincinnati
Czech will face Tiafoe, who ousted Musetti
August 15, 2024
Mike Lawrence/ATP Tour
Jiri Lehecka defeats Daniil Medvedev in straight units on Wednesday night in Cincinnati.
By ATP Workers
Jiri Lehecka earned a surprising upset victory in opposition to former World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday night within the second spherical of the Cincinnati Open.
Medvedev, the 2019 champion, arrived in Ohio hungry for matches and an uptick in type after an opening-round exit in Montreal. However as an alternative Lehecka, who previous to Cincinnati had not performed since Madrid attributable to a again harm, emerged victorious 7-6(2), 6-4.
“It is wonderful to be again, to be trustworthy,” Lehecka stated in his on-court interview. “It was a very long time since I used to be enjoying on an enormous stage, so I loved each second of it at this time. To get a win once more such a very good participant, gifted participant as Daniil certainly is, is only a bonus for me.”
🚨 UPSET ALERT 🚨@jirilehecka placed on a present for the Cincy crowd with a 7-6(2) 6-4 victory over Medvedev.@CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/UcsNlau1yt
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 15, 2024
The runner-up on the 2022 Subsequent Gen ATP Finals introduced by PIF went greater than two months with out touching a tennis racquet. On 7 July, he returned to courtroom. And simply greater than a month later, he has earned top-of-the-line wins of his profession.
Medvedev, who fell to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Montreal, landed simply 44 per cent of his first serves in line with Infosys ATP Stats and he hit seven double faults, together with a important one when dealing with break level at 3-3 within the second set. When he missed his second serve, the group fell silent.
Lehecka performed fearless tennis, hitting 17 forehand winners to benefit from his alternatives. This yr’s Adelaide champion wrote a becoming message on the digicam following the match: “I’m again!”
Lehecka, who’s now 5-14 in opposition to Prime 10 opponents, will subsequent play dwelling favorite Frances Tiafoe. The American ousted in-form Italian 14th seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-2.
“Served very well at this time. I used to be the aggressor, I used to be enjoying fairly deep, nice depth,” Tiafoe stated in his on-court interview. “However the factor is I simply tried to get on him early. He’s been enjoying on a bunch of various surfaces, he’s performed a variety of tennis these days. I do know clearly he’s making an attempt to get to his finest on the US Open, however I assumed I needed to come out actually sizzling and play as quick as I can. I got here ahead rather a lot at this time and I believe actually disrupted him.”
Tiafoe confronted a troublesome problem in opposition to the Paris Olympics bronze medalist, and he rose to the event. The World No. 27 didn’t face a break level to advance after 68 minutes.
“I do know he simply got here from the Olympics, so these are the sort of matchups you need,” Tiafoe stated. “I’ve been on the arduous courts since Atlanta, solely been enjoying higher every week. I assumed that was the largest distinction at this time.”
