Emerging Czech tennis talent Jiri Lehecka commenced his grass-court season impressively, securing a decisive 6-4, 6-4 victory over Benjamin Bonzi in the first round of the Stuttgart Open on Monday. As the eighth seed, Lehecka quickly adapted to the grass surface, a transition from his last competitive match on this surface at Wimbledon's fourth round in 2023. He showcased his powerful serve by delivering 13 aces, overwhelming his French opponent in a confident display to kick off his Wimbledon preparations.
Lehecka, 23, is now set to face Jan-Lennard Struff, the 2023 Stuttgart runner-up, in what promises to be a compelling second-round encounter. Struff also demonstrated formidable form, dispatching Italy's Matteo Arnaldi with a 6-4, 6-4 scoreline, highlighted by an astounding 30 aces. This victory marked Struff's first win against a top-50 ranked player this season, underscoring his readiness for the challenges ahead in the tournament, where top seed Alexander Zverev awaits later in the draw.
In other notable matches, American sixth seed Brandon Nakashima emerged victorious from a challenging battle against Britain's Jacob Fearnley, winning 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-1. Simultaneously, action also got underway at the Libema Open in Den Bosch. Two-time finalist Jordan Thompson began his quest for the title with a solid 6-4, 6-4 triumph over American Aleksandar Kovacevic, signaling his intent for another strong showing at the event.
ADD A COMMENT :