“But he is a bit unbalanced. He also had health problems,” Sport.cz expert Jan Kukal claimed about his Croatian opponent and suspected Leheček’s chance. However, even the Czech actor probably did not expect such a clear-cut matter as a result. Three times 6:3, in two hours and 13 minutes it was over on court number 7.
Last season, he took Leheček as an acquaintance. At all four Grand Slams, he lost in the first round against more experienced opponents. In Australia with the Bulgarian Dimitrov, in Paris with the Belgian Goffin, at Wimbledon he was overpowered by the Serb Krajinovič and at the US Open Chilan Garín.
“I had a few bright moments on concrete, but I expected more from the indoor season as well. There were a few bad decisions regarding the selection of tournaments, but this year is mainly about experience, about getting as much new information as possible, learning and playing better again next season,” claimed Lehečka, who nevertheless qualified for the Tournament of Champions under 21 years in Milan, in which he made it all the way to the finals, and successful fights with elite peers gave him energy.
“The week on ‘Next Gen’ got me in the game tuning. Tennis-wise, I feel really good, especially on the hard surface, where I have now played good matches,” he explained in an interview with Sport.cz.
He had in mind, in particular, the win over the German Alexander Zverev in the United Cup as well as a perfectly balanced three-set duel with the Briton Cameron Norrie in Auckland. In the last preparation with coach Michal Navrátil in Melbourne, he also fine-tuned sparring sessions with the American Tommy Paul and the Russian Karen Chačanov.
And then it was time to unwrap it.
In the first game, Leheček expertly averted four break points from Čorič, immediately took the Croat’s serve and did not let the baton slip out of his hand for the rest of the match. The winner played seven aces and 35 winning strokes. He cleverly pushed his opponents into the forehand and the total ratio of balls was 98:69. There was nothing to talk about here, even if Čorič had many more fans in the audience.
Lehečka will already be the favorite in the second round against American wild card holder Christopher Eubanks (116th in the world). With the form he is showing in Australia, there is nothing to be surprised about.
