Rublev’s revenge: dispatches Lehecka to achieve US Open spherical of 16
Rublev defeats Lehecka 6-3, 7-5, 6-4
Andrey Rublev, the fiery however affable redhead remains to be seeking his maiden grand slam title. The 26-year-old from Russia has had a rollercoaster of a season. He kick-started the yr with a hardcourt title in Hong Kong. He triumphed on the ATP Masters 1000 in Madrid and reached the ultimate at one other in Montreal (l. Popyrin) however in between, suffered a plethora of early-round losses.
The supremely gifted younger Czech Jiri Lehecka is seeded and ranked #32. He achieved a career-high rank of #23 following his maiden tour-level title in Adelaide at first of the season.
After struggling a vertebral stress fracture at first of the clay court docket season, the twenty-two-year-old resumed play through the summer time hardcourt swing the place in Cincinnati he dispatched world #5 Daniil Medvedev in straights.
Whereas the head-to-head was stage at two apiece, Lehecka took their most up-to-date match in March in straights on the Masters 1000 occasion in Indian Wells.
Rublev served first and opened with a double fault. With an ace out vast and a netted return, he held to 15 whereas Lehecka missed 6/8 first serves however leveled with two colossal aces.
Rublev missed 4/6 first serves however held to 30 for 2-1 with an impressive forehand down the road. Lehecka opened the fourth together with his second double fault however with an unbelievable inside-out forehand and ace out vast, held for 2-2.
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The 6thseed held at love for 3-2 whereas Lehecka struck his fourth ace and knifed an inside-out backhand volley to stage at three. Rublev hit a 120mph ace up the tee and held at love for 4-3.
Lehecka serving with new balls gifted his third double fault, confronted triple break level, and dumped serve when he missed vast with the backhand. Rublev hit two consecutive aces and after twenty-eight minutes secured the set 6-3.
Lehecka served first within the second and with a crisp crosscourt forehand and his fifth ace, held to 15 whereas Rublev opened with two unforced errors, confronted two deuce and 4 break factors but held with a monster serve out vast.
The twenty-two-year-old opened the third with two consecutive winners together with one other ace and closed with a blistering forehand down the road. Rublev opened with a terrific slice backhand and two further aces, held to 15 for 2-2.
Lehecka struck his seventh ace however confronted triple break level and dropped serve when Rublev ripped a backhand move down the road. The Russian opened the sixth together with his seventh ace however with two expensive errors, gave again the break.
Lehecka continued to pummel the ball and with two spectacular groundstroke winners consolidated the break for 4-3. Rublev serving with new balls missed 4/6 first serves together with two consecutive double faults however managed to carry with a titanic serve out vast.
Lehecka hit two consecutive winners together with his eighth ace and held at love for 5-4 whereas Rublev serving to remain within the set, benefited from three Lehecka errors to carry at like to stage.
Lehecka missed 8/12 first serves together with a double fault and although he hit two further aces, confronted three deuce, three break factors, and dropped serve with a netted backhand. Rublev made 3/5 first serves and secured the set 7-5 when Lehecka netted the return.
Lehecka served first within the third and it lasted nearly so long as the primary set! He struck three aces and confronted seven deuce and 7 break factors earlier than dropping serve after Rublev ripped a forehand down the line.
The 2-time Masters 1000 champion made 4/5 first serves and consolidated the break for 2-0. Lehecka made 3/4 first serves together with his fourteenth ace and held at love with a deft backhand volley.
Rublev donated one other double fault however with an enormous serve out vast, held to 30 for 3-1. Lehecka serving with new balls confronted deuce and break level however held following two netted returns from Rublev.
Rublev made 5/6 first serves however with two mishit forehands confronted break level and dropped serve. Lehecka struck his fifteenth ace, donated his sixth double fault however consolidated the break for 4-3.
Rublev gifted two double faults however with three aces and a rare forehand down the road, held to 30 to stage. Lehecka opened the ninth together with his seventh double fault and with three further unforced errors confronted break level and dumped serve.
Rublev served for the match up 5-4 and with two further aces secured it and booked his spot within the spherical of sixteen. The sixth seed will face a well-known foe in Grigor Dimitrov.
The Bulgarian has had a standout season with one title, and two further finals. The thirty-three-year-old is again within the prime ten at #9 and has not dropped a set en path to the fourth spherical. Whereas he trails the head-to-head 3-4, this guarantees to be an enthralling, aggressive encounter.
