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Challenger #NextGenATP First-Time Winner: Jiri Lehecka

There was no stopping Jiri Lehecka this week in Tampere, Finland. The teen blitzed a strong field at the ATP Challenger 80 event, refusing to drop a set en route to the final, where he overcame Nicolas Kicker 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday.

As the sun set on the 39th edition of the Tampere Open – the longest-running tournament on the ATP Challenger Tour – Jiri Lehecka gave the Finnish fans a glimpse into the future. The youngest player from the Czech Republic in the Top 300 of the FedEx ATP Rankings, the 19-year-old battled back to defeat Kicker for his maiden title.

It was a breakthrough moment for Lehecka, who has been steadily progressing on the Challenger circuit since his debut in 2019. He becomes the seventh teenage titlist this year, joining a strong group of #NextGenATP stars that includes Carlos Alcaraz, Brandon Nakashima and Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

The future of Czech tennis has arrived. One year ago, Tomas Machac claimed his maiden ATP Challenger Tour title at the age of 19. Towards the end of the 2020 season, fellow 19-year-old Jonas Forejtek stunned Marin Cilic in his ATP Tour debut in Sofia. And on Sunday, another 19-year-old Czech had his moment in the spotlight. With countrymen Vit Kopriva and Zdenek Kolar also making noise in recent weeks, it signals something special for the European nation.

Lehecka will soar 41 spots to a career-high No. 213 in the FedEx ATP Rankings on Monday. He also rises to 12th position in the ATP Race to Milan, seeking to make a late push to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals.

2021 Teenage Challenger Champions

Lehecka spoke to ATPTour.com following the victory…

Jiri, congrats on winning your first Challenger title. How does it feel? What are your emotions?
It feels incredible. I’m really happy I achieved that. It’s a lot of satisfaction after a lot of hard work. It will be good for me in the future and I’ll continue working hard with my team. Of course I’m very happy to win here in Tampere.

Talk about the final. Were you nervous today?
I’m always nervous, especially when I’m about to play in a final. But it was ok. I dealt with the nerves. They showed up at the end of the first set. I had some chances there and I did not use them. But then I started to play better and better. I was more confident with my serve and it was good in the end.  

It was an amazing tournament for you. You didn’t lose a set entering the final. How do you explain what you achieved this week?
When the draw came out, I wasn’t too excited. I saw I played third seeded Antoine Hoang in the first round. Then, it was Nicolas Jarry or Jonas Forejtek. Jarry won, so I knew that it would be another hard match. I played him a few weeks ago in Salzburg. I knew that it won’t be easy, but I played good tennis. The conditions here are good for my tennis and for me to focus on my game. I felt good from match-to-match. Every day was better and better.

In the quarter-finals, it was hard to play against Otto Virtanen on home soil here in Finland. He had a lot of supporters here. It was more about your mind than your game. I could handle it really well. In the semi-finals, against Kyrian Jacquet, I destroyed him. My game was bad for his tennis. And in the final, against Kicker, he was Top 100 in 2018 and is a clay specialist. It was a tough match and I’m happy I won.

Photo: Tampere Open / frameshot.fi

This is your first full season on the ATP Challenger Tour. What is the key at this level?
It’s a completely different level coming from Futures. Players here are more experienced. There are players who were in the Top 100 at some point. And there are many young and talented players coming up. You need to play every ball and understand that no one will give you anything for granted. You need to play your best tennis.

You are the third Czech champion this year, joining Tomas Machac and Zdenek Kolar. Does their success inspire you?
This is really good for all Czech guys, even the younger guys. If you see that other players are doing well, it will motivate you. It pushes you higher and higher and to keep working hard. You want to do even better than the others. Of course I’m happy for them and their success can be mine in a couple months. Machac is in the Olympics and Kolar just won his second Challenger title. It’s good to push each other up and play together at this level.

What part of your game has improved the most this year? What are you working on, on the ATP Challenger Tour?
My mental game. I think I’ve calmed down a little bit this year. I had a lot of emotions on the tennis court. I’m just trying to be more positive and trying to practise better each day. Be more positive and go 100 per cent and with that the success will come of course.

This is your first time in Tampere. Talk about the tournament. How did they make you feel comfortable this week?
Here in Tampere it’s a very nice site. I love Finland. It’s a very nice country. A lot of beautiful nature. I was really happy to come here, because I heard that the tournament has a tradition. It has a history. A lot of good players won here. The hospitality was really good, and the shuttle and food too. It can be seen that over the last 40 years they have a lot of experience.

Who has had the biggest influence on your career? And why?
My coach Michal Navratil of course. So many people have had an impact on my career. Even if it’s my physical coach, my family, my parents and my girlfriend. So many people are trying to push me forward and to be better. Also my mental coach and my manager. There are so many people trying to help me. It wouldn’t be possible without them all.

Outside of tennis, what is your biggest passion in life?
I love all other sports. Sport is my passion. If it’s not tennis, I love to go on the bicycle or go skiing. Sport is my passion all the way up and down. I grew up in a sporting environment. Both my parents were professional athletes. My mother did track and field and my father was a professional swimmer. I have the genes to be a sportsman.

You are closing in on the Top 200. Do you have any goals for the rest of the year?
Of course I would like to enter the Top 200 this year. We’ll see. I would like to win another tournament too. You need to play better every week and we’ll see what it will bring. I think we are on a good path.

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Six Years On, Kuznetsov Returns To Winners' Circle: "It's Been A Very Long Journey"

Andrey Kuznetsov was unsure if he would ever play professional tennis again. But lifting a trophy? That wasn’t even on the Russian’s radar as he kicked off his comeback one year ago, following a three-year hiatus due to a hip injury.

It was in August that Kuznetsov stepped on a match court for the first time since 2018. At the time, he admits retirement was more of a reality than any professional ambitions. A former World No. 39 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, the 30-year-old was merely hoping to be competitive in his return to the court.

What he achieved on Sunday was more than he could have imagined. Kuznetsov claimed his first title in six years on the ATP Challenger Tour, prevailing on the hard courts of Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. Six long years had passed since the Moscow native last triumphed in Como, Italy, in 2015. Having fought to stay healthy and maintain a positive mentality under such trying circumstances, Kuznetsov provided the feel-good story of the week, if not the entire season, on the Challenger circuit.

“It’s a nice feeling to win after such a long time,” Kuznetsov said after winning the title. “It’s been a very long journey. I cannot say I was believing all this time that I would play again. There were tough periods when I thought I would have to stop my career. But I am here and very happy. Hopefully there is more to come.”

Kuznetsov, who worked as a tennis coach and also a TV commentator for Eurosport as he rehabbed the hip injury, had doubts that he would ever compete professionally again. But with his latest victory, those questions have been answered.

Having not competed on the professional circuit for nearly three years and without a spot in the FedEx ATP Rankings, Kuznetsov was forced to rebuild his game and his confidence from the bottom up. He has been steadily building towards this moment since launching his comeback.

In April, the Russian would qualify for his first ATP Tour main draw since 2017 at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, before earning his first Top 100 win of the year (d. Ivashka) at Roland Garros. And this week, he put it all together in Nur-Sultan, defeating third seed Jay Clarke, local wild card Beibit Zhukayev, fifth seed Peter Polansky and countryman Pavel Kotov, before prevailing in Sunday’s championship over Jason Kubler.

After all the struggles he’s endured, it’s a victory that Kuznetsov says he will cherish and use for motivation going forward.

“Of course I’m very happy. I wasn’t able to compete in these tournaments for a long time. I’m happy I could show some good tennis and I hope for even better results in the future.”

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First-Time Winner Spotlight: Carlos Alcaraz

#NextGenATP Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz saw off three of the top four seeds to capture his maiden ATP Tour title at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag.

The 18-year-old became the youngest tour-level winner since an 18-year-old Kei Nishikori triumphed in Delray Beach 13 years ago, and the youngest from Spain since Rafael Nadal, who was eight days younger when he prevailed in Sopot in 2004.

ATPTour.com caught up with Alcaraz following his victory over Richard Gasquet in Sunday’s final.

Watch Umag Final Highlights:

How did you start playing tennis and what are some of your early memories of the sport?
I started to play tennis when I was four years old thanks to my father. He was a professional tennis player as well and he started to teach me how to play tennis. I have a club near my home and I passed it all the time. I’d play tennis and play football with my friends.

When did you realise you wanted to become a professional tennis player?
I think when I was 14 years old, which is when I started to travel around the world. In Spain, I started to win tournaments – national, international – so I realised I can be a professional tennis player. I worked hard for that and I’m reaching my dreams.

Your coach Juan Carlos Ferrero has been a very important person in your life. What do you remember from when you first met him? What makes him so special not just as a coach but as a mentor and a friend?
The first time I met him was at his academy. I went to the academy to train with some players from there and one day he told me that he wanted to train with me. I was in shock. That was the first time I met him, it was on court. Of course he’s a mentor for me. He’s a friend as well, so he’s everything to me. 

What do you think is the most important lesson he has taught you?
I think the most important thing that he taught me is I have to play every point at the same level. I have to be calm in the tough moments and play really, really aggressive. I think this is the most important thing that I learnt from him.

You’ve been getting a lot of attention from a young age, with many people wanting to talk to you, compare you to Rafael Nadal. How have you been able to deal with the pressure so well?
I try not to think about that. I say always the same – I’m focused on my [path]. I’m still learning, still growing up, still being friendly with everyone and am still focused on my [path].

Today was a big day for you winning your first title. What are some of your next goals, and your biggest goals?
My goal for this year was to reach the Top 50. I think now I’m [close], so when I reach this goal I’m going to put another goal for the end of the season. My biggest goal is to reach No. 1 in the world and I’m working hard for that. 

Off court, you like golfing in your free time. What are some of the other things you like doing, even if they’re not sport related?
I [also] like things outside of sports. I really like to spend time with family, friends, to do some things with friends. When I finish a tournament, I really like to go to my home, to spend time with friends and family.

If you could go to dinner with any three celebrities in the world, who would you pick and why?
I don’t know. Let’s say Rafa, Federer and Djokovic (laughs).

How much do you look up to those three guys as legends of the sport?
I grew up watching them winning tournaments, winning Grand Slams and I think they’re three of the best in history. For me, it’s amazing to play against them on the same circuit. I’m a lucky guy to learn from them.

You’re getting lots of fans already. What is something you would want them to know about you as a person, not a tennis player?
Let’s say I’m very friendly. I’m an open person, so you can talk to me about anything. 

You’re looking in good shape to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals this year. Of course, you’ll celebrate your first ATP Tour title now, but how important is that to make it to Milan this year?
For me it’s incredible. It’s a goal. For me, it would be amazing to play the Next Gen ATP Finals against the best #NextGenATP players of the year. I would enjoy that moment.

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Amazing Alcaraz: 18 Y.O. Spaniard Wins First ATP Tour Title In Umag

#NextGenATP star Carlos Alcaraz won his first ATP Tour title on Sunday evening in Umag, becoming the youngest champion in more than a decade.

In a triumph that tennis fans might look back to for years, the 18-year-old defeated former World No. 7 Richard Gasquet emphatically 6-2, 6-2 to triumph at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag. Alcaraz is the youngest tour-level champion since 18-year-old Kei Nishikori emerged victorious in Delray Beach in 2008.

”It’s amazing. I have a lot of emotions. I’m really, really happy with this victory, this win, my first ATP Amazing Alcaraz: 18 Y.O. Spaniard Wins First ATP Tour Title In Umag,” Alcaraz said. “I’m going to enjoy this moment a lot.”

The Spaniard crushed a final forehand winner to close out his victory before launching a ball high into the Croatian night. Alcaraz’s coach and mentor, former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, rose from his seat and pumped his fist while sporting a wide smile across his face to celebrate his charge’s breakthrough. Shortly thereafter, the pair shared a warm embrace.

Watch Championship Point:

This was an ironic matchup in Alcaraz’s first championship clash. Gasquet was also a highly regarded teenager, who claimed his first tour-level match win as a 15-year-old in 2002, more than a year before Alcaraz was born. The Frenchman remains the youngest match winner in ATP Tour history (since 1990).

Alcaraz has had plenty of eyes on him since bursting onto the ATP Tour in Rio de Janeiro in 2020, when he also won three ATP Challenger Tour titles. It was a matter of when, not if he would position himself for tour-level glory. And on his first opportunity, the teen showed no nerves. The seventh seed overwhelmed the 15-time ATP Tour titlist with impressive power and poise over one hour and 17 minutes.

“I had a lot of good moments in this tournament. I beat five great tennis players,” Alcaraz said. “I think that I grew up a lot in this tournament and I keep a lot of experience from this tournament. It’s going to be useful for the future.”

Gasquet has one of the most picturesque one-handed backhands of his generation and a great ability to mix up spins and speeds to trouble his opponents. But Alcaraz was never flustered against the veteran, unleashing one lethal strike after another. He broke the Frenchman’s serve four times without losing serve himself.

The 18-year-old set the tone early in the first set, cracking a rocket-like inside-in forehand for a winner to break for a 2-1 advantage, and he never looked back. Gasquet double faulted to give his younger opponent a break advantage in the second set, and he was never able to work his way back into the match.

The Frenchman earned three break points at 1-4 in the second set, but he was never able to control the rally on big points. Gasquet, who needed three hours and 11 minutes to win his semi-final against Daniel Altmaier on Saturday, was trying to win his first ATP Tour title since ’s-Hertogenbosch in 2018.

“It was tough for me to play [with] full intensity. I had a tough match yesterday. It was tough, and especially with a guy like Carlos, who is playing really fast with a lot of energy and spin,” Gasquet said. “He’s playing unbelievable. He’s only 18 and of course he has a great future and I just couldn’t play at his level and his intensity. That was the key of the match and he didn’t lose a point. He played well, very solid. He’s a great player.”

Did You Know?
Alcaraz is the youngest Spaniard to win an ATP Tour title since countryman Rafael Nadal claimed his first trophy in Sopot in 2004. Nadal was just eight days younger that day than Alcaraz is today.

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Huesler/Stricker Victorious On Home Soil In Gstaad

Wild cards Marc-Andrea Huesler and Dominic Stricker capped a dream week on home soil on Sunday when they overcame Polish duo Szymon Walkow and Jan Zielinski 6-1, 7-6(7) to lift the Swiss Open Gstaad trophy.

The Swiss, who were competing in just their second ATP Tour event together, dropped only one set en route to the title. They were dominant on serve in the final, winning 34 of their 35 first-service points. Huesler and Stricker took their third match point in the second-set tie-break to record victory in 65 minutes.

“We both started off serving really well, and the return games were going our way,” Huesler said. “We almost didn’t miss a shot in the first set, but in doubles that can go very fast. Our opponents put up a fight in the second set, but we were almost untouchable on our service games and that is probably why we won the match.”

“It is something very special to win my first title at home,” Stricker added. “It is always great to win a title, but to win with another Swiss guy is different. Hopefully we can win another one.”

With the victory, 18-year-old Stricker became the youngest ATP Tour doubles champion since 18-year-old Mikael Ymer won the 2016 Stockholm Open crown (w/E. Ymer). The teen is the youngest Gstaad doubles champion in the Open Era, and the previous youngest was Roger Federer, who triumphed here in 2001 with Marat Safin.

Huesler and Stricker enjoyed a run to the quarter-finals at the Gonet Geneva Open in May. They were both competing in their first ATP Tour final on Sunday. 

Walkow and Zielinski were making their ATP Tour team debut as a team this week but own a 24-9 record on the ATP Challenger Tour level this year. They have claimed two titles at that level this season.

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British Open Wheelchair Tennis: Alfie Hewett wins men's singles title

Alfie Hewett produces a dominant display to beat seven-time champion Shingo Kunieda and win his first British Open men’s wheelchair singles title.

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Cabal/Farah Win Tokyo Opener

Third seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah comfortably moved into the second round at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Spaniards Pablo Carreno Busta and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

The Colombian team, who have lifted two tour-level titles this season in Barcelona and Dubai, hit six aces and won 77 per cent (23/30) of their first-service points to advance in 79 minutes.

Cabal and Farah will next face Austrian duo Oliver Marach and Philipp Oswald, who moved past Australians John Millman and Luke Saville 7-5, 6-2.

Italians Lorenzo Musetti and Lorenzo Sonego also advanced as they beat Spanish tandem Pablo Andujar and Roberto Carballes Baena 7-5, 6-4. #NextGenATP star Musetti and Sonego broke the Spaniards three times and they will next play top-seeded Croatians Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.

Another Croatian team, Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig, also booked their spot in the second round. They defeated Japanese pair Taro Daniel and Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2, 6-4. Americans Rajeev Ram and Frances Tiafoe await next.

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Tokyo Olympics: Watch best shots from Osaka's first round victory at Tokyo 2020

Watch the best shots from Naomi Osaka’s dominating first round victory over China’s Zheng Saisai as she advances to the second round of the women’s singles competition in her home country of Japan.

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First-Time Winner Spotlight: Cameron Norrie

Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie did not drop a set all week en route to his first ATP Tour title at the Mifel Open on Saturday.

The 25-year-old is enjoying a career-best season this year, having now notched 35 tour-level wins this year. The lefty was competing in his fourth ATP Tour final of the season in Los Cabos, after enjoying runs to the championship match in Estoril, Lyon, and London.

ATPTour.com caught up with the World No. 30 after his maiden title in Los Cabos.

What does it mean to you to win your first ATP Tour title?
I feel very happy. I couldn’t be more proud of myself, proud of my team and how I handled the week. I am happy how I improved every match. I used my experience a little bit today and I think it showed in the match… I think it’s a huge bonus. It was always a goal of mine to get my first title. Obviously I’d lost three finals this year, so it was very nice to get over the line today. I’m going to enjoy it tonight and then [go] straight back to work.

This was your fourth final of the year and fifth overall. What did you learn from those first chances that helped you win tonight?
I think I was always the underdog in the other finals this year. I played Albert [Ramos-Vinolas] in the first one then Stefanos Tsitispas in the next and [Matteo] Berrettini in the other one. They were all tough matches, and I was close to getting over the line with Albert and I think I relaxed a little bit there. I learned there to keep the foot on the other guy’s neck and keep pressing and taking it to the other guy. I managed to really step it up today in the second set and kept Brandon Nakashima penned to the corners. Also, to be a bit calmer in some of the bigger moments.

When we asked you before the start of the season who will make a big breakthrough in 2021, you picked yourself. What did you know then that we didn’t?
I think I am doing the fundamentals very well, serve and return. Also, playing the big points well. Just focusing in on big games and executing my game when I need to. Finding a first serve or finding a good passing shot or the one being aggressive. Physically, I am feeling great. I am moving well and trusting my body, especially out in the corners. I think I have kept my momentum going really well.

How special is your relationship with your coach, Facundo? What did you first think of him when you first met him at TCU and how important has he become to you both on and off the court?
Facundo is a great guy. I played on the team with him for one year and asked him to coach me in my first year turning pro in 2017. I think he is a good balance of being a friend and a professional. He is very passionate about tennis, and he is always willing to learn and do more, going above and beyond. I think he really gets the best out of me. It is nice to have someone who knows you well off the court. I can tell him anything, how I am feeling before the match, and I think it is important you can have someone you can speak openly with about how you are feeling. Facundo has been a very good role model for me.

Could you take a moment to acknowledge some of the key figures in your life and tennis playing career who have helped you to reach this milestone?
Big thanks to my parents back in New Zealand. They have sacrificed a lot. I remember my mum driving me to tennis early in the mornings for 6:15 a.m. practice and she had everything prepared. Then moving to London when I was 16-years-old, James Trotman really helped me throughout my time there. He still helps me and overlooks my tennis with Facundo and the rest of my team. TCU tennis, Devin Bowen and David Roditi set me up well. I made a lot of mistakes in college, so it was nice to learn there and have those role models. Then all my friends and family that have made a positive impact on me. Also, my team right now, and big thanks to my girlfriend for putting up with everything.

How much do you remember from playing tennis in the driveway as a kid and how surreal is it that you’re now here as an ATP Tour champion?
I would never have thought I would have got here, but here we are and I could not be more pleased. It was very special for me to get on the Tour and do this for a living.

What do you consider to be your biggest passion outside of tennis and can you tell us a little bit about that interest?
Watching sport. NFL, football, a little bit of basketball, cricket as well, and watching tennis. So, all sports, and with Covid, I have had a lot of time to follow everything and have been involved in a lot of fantasy leagues.

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Tokyo Olympics: Naomi Osaka 'refreshed' for 'nerve-wracking' Games debut in Japan

A “refreshed” Naomi Osaka says it was “nerve-wracking” to compete in the Olympics in her home country of Japan after her first-round win.

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