Czech star Jiri Lehecka full on confidence ahead of Australian Open
After a successful, and busy, Brisbane International campaign, Jiri Lehecka is aiming for his best performance at a grand slam singles event.
A confident Jiri Lehecka is targeting an Australian Open semi-final berth after winning the Brisbane International men’s singles title.
The 23-year-old Czech won his second ATP title on Sunday night at Pat Rafter Arena after his American opponent Reilly Opelka – the man who beat top seed Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the quarter-finals – retired with a back injury trailing 4-1 in the first set.
“I’m very happy that I won but unfortunately the end was a bit sad,” said Lehecka, who entered the tournament ranked No.28 in the world.
“If I would have to choose, I would choose to finish the match differently, but that’s how it is.
“I know how he feels. It happened to me also. I wish him just speedy recovery. I hope it’s nothing serious.”
Lehecka was forced off the circuit for three months last year because of a stress fracture in his back.
“Since I started to play again (in August), I have never felt anything again,” he said.
However, after a busy week in Brisbane, which included reaching the doubles final with playing partner and fellow Czech Jakub Mensik, Lehecka was unsure whether he would back up this week to defend the Adelaide International singles title he won last year ahead of the Australian Open, which starts on Sunday.
“My body had a very exhausting week here in Brisbane,” he said.
“To play 10 matches in a week is never easy. We had a couple days where we needed to play doubles after singles, which is very exhausting … (but) this is the best possible preparation (for the upcoming Australian Open) that a player can have.
“To play that amount of matches helps, for sure. Definitely it will be good challenge for me to prepare for the Aussie Open as well.”
Lehecka’s best performance in a grand slam singles tournament came in Melbourne two years ago when he reached the quarter-finals before losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“I know I have the game, (and) I have the level,” he said.
“I beat some good players already. This week also helped me to build my confidence up.
“I have high goals (in Melbourne) this year. I don’t want to say that I’m going to win, but I will do my best to go as far as I can.
“We will see if I can improve on my best result (at the Australian Open) by one more round.
“I’m just trying to focus on my game to do my things well, not to think about things that I can’t change.
“That’s something that helped me through this week (in Brisbane). Even when I had some bad moments on court, I was just trying to focus on what I wanted to do, not on what my opponent was doing.”
Critics embarrassed as Roosters shock the world
Bookmakers and critics of the Roosters were made to look silly as Trent Robinson’s men pulled off one of the greatest upsets of all time against a Panthers side that copped a stinging accusation from their coach.
Why Dutton is a ‘risk’ ‘to the nation
A powerful teachers’ union has warned a Dutton government “is the biggest risk to the future of this nation” as a $4.8bn education deal hangs in the balance.