By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, January 5, 2025
Picture credit score: Chris Hyde/Getty
Jiri Lehecka has a aptitude for beginning on high Down Below.
The 23-year-old Lehecka led resurgent Reilly Opelka, 4-1, when the 6’11” American retired from in the present day’s Brisbane Worldwide last because of a a again damage.
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It is Lehecka’s second profession championship—and marks the second 12 months in a row he is opened a season taking a title Down Below.
Final January, Lehecka defeated Nicolas Jarry, Sebastian Korda and Jack Draper in succession to seize his maiden championship in Adelaide.
An unlucky ending to an awesome week …Speedy restoration Reilly 🙏 Congratulations to our Champion in Brisbane @jirilehecka 🏆#Brisbaneinternational pic.twitter.com/rXZ45lsLjn
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 5, 2025
This week, Lehecka knocked off third-seeded Holger Rune, Yoshihito Nishioka, Jarry, defending-champion Grigor Dimitrov and Opelka in an injury-shortened last.
Lehecka dropped only one set en path to the title changing into the second-youngest males’s champion in Brisbane historical past following 22-year-old Nick Kyrgios, who beat Ryan Harrison within the 2018 last.
“It’s by no means simple to complete a match this manner, I understand how you’re feeling Reilly,” Lehecka stated. “It has been an honor to see you again taking part in and in case your physique can take it you’ll be there for a lot of extra years. “It was an awesome week for me in Brisbane. I simply like to play right here in Australia.
“I wish to thank everybody for coming to observe and my crew.”
Nice to have you ever again Reilly 🙌What per week it was:
Rd 1 def Federico Agustin Gomez
7-5 6-4 ✅
Rd of 16 def Matteo Arnaldi
7-6 7-6 ✅
QF def Novak Djokovic
7-6 6-3✅
SF def Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
6-3 7-6 ✅#Brisbaneinternational pic.twitter.com/5QxiDZuS71
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 5, 2025
World No. 293 Opelka, who toppled Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic and lethal-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in succession to succeed in his seventh profession last, made historical past because the lowest-ranked man to succeed in the Brisbane last.
Opelka, who was sidelined practically two full years after present process hip surgical procedure and two wrist surgical procedures, rises to No. 171 within the ATP Reside Rankings and, if wholesome, figures to be a power in Melbourne.
