By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday August 14, 2024

 

Jiri Lehecka barely put a foot wrong as he took down world No.5 Daniil Medvedev to reach the round of 16 at Cincinnati.

Photo Source: TTV

Jiri Lehecka missed the last three months with a back injury. Now that he’s back on tour this week in Cincinnati, it’s clear that his tennis hasn’t suffered.

Playing in his first event since Madrid, the 22-year-old stormed into the round of 16 on Wednesday with a 7-6(2), 6-4 victory over fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev.

“It’s amazing to be back, to be honest,” a smiling Lehecka said after the win. “For me it was a long time since I was playing on the big stage. I enjoyed every moment of it today. To get a win against such a good player like Daniil is just a bonus for me.”



Lehecka’s explosive tennis was on display from start to finish and he frustrated Medvedev with his ability to deliver big shots in the moments that mattered most. He saved all five break points he faced and never wilted down the stretch even as Medvedev saved a trio of match points to force him to serve out the match in the second set.

Lehecka finished with 24 winners, including 17 off the forehand wing (compared to eight forehand winners for Medvedev), and won 15 of 19 points at net.

The rising Czech improves to 2-1 lifetime over Medvedev, despite the fact that the Russian was strong on serve, and only lost 20 points from his serve all night.

Medvedev drops to 35-13 on the season. He has yet to win a title in 2024.



35th-ranked Lehecka earns his fourth career top-10 win, and third of 2024. He will face Frances Tiafoe in the round of 16.

Tiafoe was electric as well on Wednesday. The American reached the round of 16 in Cincinnati for the first time in seven years with a dominant 6-3, 6-2 win over Olympic bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti on the Grandstand.

Top-seeded Jannik Sinner also reached the round of 16 on Wednesday, saving all eight break points he faced against American Alex Michelsen to win 6-4, 7-5. Sinner will face Aussie Jordan Thompson next.

12 second-round matches are in play tomorrow on the men’s side in Cincinnati, with No.2-seeded Carlos Alcaraz facing Gael Monfils in the highlighted night session match.