Rublev’s Revenge: sends Lehecka to catch up US Open round i 16
Rublev defeats Lehecka 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
Andrey Rublev, the fiery but lovable redhead is still looking for his first Grand Slam title. of 26-The year-old from Russia has had a rollercoaster of a season. He started the year with a title on the hard court in Hong Kong. He triumphed in ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid and reached the final in another in Montreal (l. Popyrin), but in between suffered a plethora of early round losses.
Supreme young Czech talent Jiri Lehecka landed and ranked #32. He achieved a career high rank of #23 after his first tour-level title in Adelaide earlier in the season.
After suffering a vertebral stress fracture early in the clay court season, the twenty-two-year-old returned to action during the summer clay court swing, where in Cincinnati he sent the world #5 Daniil Medvedev in a straight line.
While the matchup was tied at two apiece, Lehecka played their most recent match in March heading straight into the Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells.
Rublev served first and opened with a double fault. With an ace out of the box and a net return, he held 15 while Lehecka lost 6/8 first serves but draws two colossal aces.
Rublev lost 4/6 first serve but held in 30 ABOUT 2-1 with a tremendous advantage on the line. Lehecka opened the fourth with his second double fault, but an incredible inside-out shot and ace out wide held for 2-2.
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of 6the seed held in love for 3-2 while Lehecka hit his fourth ace and stabbed an inside-out volley to level at three. Rublev hit a 120mph ace to the tee and hold on to love 4-3.
Lehecka serving with new balls served his third double fault, faced triple break points and dropped serve when he missed out on his backhand. Rublev hit two aces in a row and after twenty-eight minutes secured the set 6-3.
Lehecka served first in the second and with a clear forehand on the crossbar and his fifth ace, held in 15 while Rublev opened with two unforced errors, faced two deuces and four break points, but held with a monster serve out wide.
The 22-year-old opened the third with two winners in a row, including another ace, and closed with a strong forehand down the line. Rublev opened with a wonderful backhand and two additional aces, held on his feet 15 ABOUT 2-2.
Lehecka hit his seventh ace but faced triple break point and broke serve when Rublev hit a backhand down the line. The Russian opened the sixth with his seventh ace, but two costly errors gave him the break.
Lehecka continued to hit the ball and with two spectacular winners on the ground consolidated the break for 4-3. Rublev serving with new balls missed 4/6 First serve including two double faults in a row, but managed to hold with a titanic serve out wide.
Lehecka hit two winners in a row, including his eighth ace, and held to love 5-4 as Rublev served to stay in the set, he took advantage of three Lehecka errors to keep them level at love.
Lehecka lost 8/12 The first serves included a double fault and although he hit two extra aces, he faced three deuces, three break points and dropped serve with a net backhand. Rublev did 3/5 first serves and secured the kit 7-5 when Lehecka scored the return.
Lehecka served first in the third and lasted almost as long as in the first set! He hit three aces and faced seven deuces and seven break points before dropping serve after Rublev dropped a forehand down the line.
Masters twice 1000 champion made 4/5 first serves and consolidated rest for 2-0. Lehecka did 3/4 First serve including his fourteenth ace and love with a supple volley.
Rublev served another double fault, but with a big serve wide, held 30 ABOUT 3-1. Lehecka, serving with new balls, faced a deuce and a break point, but held after two returns scored by Rublev.
Rublev did 5/6 first serve, but the meaty two-armer faced break point and dropped serve. Lehecka hit his fifteenth ace, served his sixth double fault, but consolidated the break for 4-3.
Rublev gave away two double faults, but with three aces and an incredible forehand on the last line, held at 30 to level. Lehecka opened the ninth with his seventh double fault and with three more unforced errors faced break points and dropped serve.
Rublev served for the last game 5-4 and with two additional aces secured it and booked his place in the sixteenth round. The sixth seed will face a familiar foe in Grigor Dimitrov.
Bulgaria has had an outstanding season with a title and two additional finals. The 33-year-old is back in the top ten in #9 and did not drop a set en route to the fourth round. As he tracks head to head 3-4this promises to be an exciting and competitive encounter.
