Jiri Lehecka earned his first ATP Masters 1000 win on Wednesday on the BNP Paribas Open with a battling efficiency towards Arthur Rinderknech. The 21-year-old Czech scored a 7-6(4), 7-5 victory in his second look on the prestigious stage, having certified for Monte Carlo final season.
Sixth seed Andrey Rublev awaits within the second spherical for what would be the pair’s third ATP Head2Head matchup. Each of their previous conferences went three units, with Rublev profitable final April in Belgrade and Lehecka returning the favour final month in Doha.
In opposition to Rinderknech, Lehecka twice got here again from a break down within the opening set earlier than saving two set factors on serve at 5-6. He by no means trailed within the tie-break and raced out to a 3-0 lead in set two, although his French opponent levelled the second at 4-4. Lehecka’s fourth break of the match, on his seventh break level, sealed the win.
The World No. 47 Lehecka has backed up his runner-up end to the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals final November with a robust begin to 2023, highlighted by a breakout run to the Australian Open quarter-finals. He additionally reached the semi-finals in Doha, shedding a three-set thriller to Andy Murray after defeating Rublev one spherical earlier.
If he can get previous Rublev once more in Indian Wells, Lehecka would meet twenty fifth seed Denis Shapovalov or Frenchman Ugo Humbert within the third spherical.
Berdych On Lehecka: ‘He Has A Brilliant Future’
China’s Wu Yibing additionally superior on Day 1 of main-draw play in Indian Wells, with the 23-year-old claiming a 6-7(6), 6-0, 7-6(3) win towards Spain’s Jaume Munar. His reward is one other Spanish opponent: twenty third seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Wu was competing at an ATP Masters 1000 for the primary time since Shanghai 2018, the place he picked up a win as a wild card. He confronted simply two break factors within the match, with Munar changing one within the opening set and the second within the ultimate set.
After using a backhand drop shot on match level, Wu sealed the deal in dramatic style with a diving volley.
The victory extends his tour-level win streak to seven matches after he claimed his maiden ATP Tour title in Dallas final month, beating Taylor Fritz and John Isner within the ultimate two rounds. Every of his previous three wins have are available in three units.
Wu, who already holds the honour of being China’s highest-ranked man in historical past, moved one other 4 locations to No. 63 within the Pepperstone ATP Stay Rankings with at the moment’s win.
