Lehecka passes Cilic test in Belgrade: 'He hasn't forgotten how to play'

  • Posted: Nov 05, 2024

Jiri Lehecka delivered a statement performance against Marin Cilic on Tuesday at the Belgrade Open to serve up some Czech history.

The fourth seed powered to a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory, becoming the first Czech player to reach seven ATP Tour quarter-finals in one season since Tomas Berdych in 2017. With the one-hour, 43-minute win, Lehecka extended his perfect record against opponents outside the Top 100 in the PIF ATP Rankings to 8-0.

“He didn’t forget how to play,” Lehecka said of Cilic, the former World No. 3. “We saw that today, it was a good test for me. It’s always a good win against a very experienced player, a Grand Slam champion, so I’m very happy.”

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Lehecka was ruthless on serve throughout the match, during which he won 89 per cent (33/37) points behind his first delivery, according to Infosys ATP Stats. In the last eight, the 22-year-old will face qualifier Lukas Klein, who earlier upset seventh seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-4, 7-6(8).

Elsewhere, Hamad Medjedovic continued his return to form with a hard-fought win over Aleksandar Kovacevic to advance to his third tour-level quarter-final. The wild card did not face a single break point, en route to a 7-6(5), 6-4 triumph.

“I was a bit tight in my first match [against Brandon Nakashima],” said Medjedovic, the reigning Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF champion. “But now I have got into the rhythm, I am feeling great with the home crowd and I’m really enjoying it.”

Medjedovic will face either third seed Francisco Cerundolo or Roman Safiullin, who earlier secured his 50th tour-level win by defeating Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-3.

On a day of Serbian success, Laslo Djere won the battle of two wild cards with a commanding 6-4, 6-4 victory over Stan Wawrinka. The 29-year-old, who notched his third tour-level win on home soil, will face lucky loser Duje Ajdukovic in the second round.

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