Before facing Nadal, Lehecka doesn't tremble: "I'm going out there with the conviction that I can win".
Jiri Lehecka, 22 and ranked 31st in the world, is set to take on Rafael Nadal this Tuesday evening. He may be facing a mountain to climb, but the Czech is confident he can win.
This is not the first time the right-hander has tried his hand. Since 2023, he has gone from strength to strength. The man who revealed himself at the Australian Open 2023 by reaching the quarter-finals (beaten by Tsitsipas), continues to progress. Despite a number of minor injuries, he took his game to the next level this year. Winning his first career title in January (Adelaide), he has already reached the quarter-finals at Indian Wells and is hoping for his second career Masters 1000 quarter-final here in Madrid.
Another factor that has been the subject of much discussion since the line-up became known is that, although the two men have never faced each other, they have played together in training and the Czech has largely dominated the Spaniard. Questioned on the subject, the Czech wanted to calm things down: "I've been training with him this week, but the training is not comparable to what could happen tomorrow (this Tuesday, not before 9.30pm) in a match, because we were on a small court, it was windy and we both played with progressive intensity. Things change radically with Rafa, from a training session to a competitive match. What's more, it's clear that his game has improved a lot, from what I saw against De Minaur."
One thing is certain: this Round of 16 match promises to be a tight affair. Between Rafael Nadal, a legend crowned in Spain but still far from his best, and Jiri Lehecka, who would like to make history at the tournament, it's hard to pick a favorite.
In Madrid, an entire nation is likely to be pushing to see Rafa continue his adventure and delay the tributes, but the Czech is nonetheless over-motivated: "What's clear is that facing Nadal on clay is the ultimate challenge in tennis. It will be a great honor for me to share the court with him. Even if he's not at his best, his performances are already improving and I know it won't be easy. [...] He's almost 600th in the world, so I'd have to be the favorite (smiles) [...] If I were to walk onto the court afraid of the atmosphere and what this match entails, I'd better not do it. I know what it means to face Nadal on clay, but I also know that these conditions are the least favorable for him. The altitude, a climate that's not too hot... I'm going onto the court with the conviction that I can win if I play my best tennis."
For Lehecka, the stakes are twofold. Although he will be making his return to the top 30 next week, he wants to go higher: "My main objective at the start of 2024 was to win a title, and I achieved that in the first week of competition (Adelaide). From now on, what I'm aiming for is to be in the top 20."
Thank you, Jiri.