By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday October 19, 2024

 

Jiri Lehecka took out Stefanos Tsitsipas for his 7th Top 20 win of the season in Antwerp.

Photo Source: European Open

Faced with a difficult challenge from American Marcos Giron, rising Czech Jiri Lehecka doubled down on his weapons and pushed past his foe to reach his second final of 2024.

The fifth-seeded 23-year-old rallied for a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory to set a Sunday final with 36-year-old Roberto Bautista Agut at the European Open in Antwerp.

“He played incredible tennis, in the second set at times I was speechless at what he was able to produce,” Lehecka said. “I’m so happy to be through, today it was a hard-fought battle.”



With his win Lehecka becomes the first Czech man to reach an indoor final since Tomas Berdych in 2015. He won seven of 10 second serve return points in the final set and broke Giron’s serve twice, while winning 16 of 20 points behind his own serve.

“After the second set I thought that I wasn’t playing bad but he was just playing incredible from the baseline,” Lehecka said. “I knew that I needed to use every chance I had… his second chance was the only chance to do it, so I tried to do that and it worked well.”

The Czech will bid for his second career title in the final, after winning the title in Adelaide in January.

Bautista Agut defeated France’s Hugo Gaston earlier on Saturday and will bid for his 12th career title on Sunday. Lehecka scored his first win in four tries against the Spaniard in Beijing, winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

“He’s been in this position many times,” Lehecka said. “Of course it will be a big challenge but I believe, and trust in myself that I’m well prepared.”