Antwerp
Lehecka dropped Munar again, reaching R2 in Antwerp
The fifth seed will face either Altmaier or Bailly next in the ATP 250
October 15, 2024
Angel Martinez/Getty Images for ITF
Jiri Lehecka is number 33 in the PIF ATP Rankings. (File photo)
By ATP staff
There was an element of déjà vu in Jiri Lehecka’s first-round victory on Tuesday at the European Open.
The fifth seed defeated Jaume Munar 6-1, 6-4 to book a place in the second round in his ATP 250 debut in Antwerp. It was the second Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting between Lehecka and Munar in 10 days after their opening round clash at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where the Czech also advanced in straight sets.
Jiri continues 💪@jirilehecka | @EuroTennisOpen | #Europe Open pic.twitter.com/AdSK43nOpl
– ATP Tour (@atptour) October 15, 2024
Lehecka dominated most of Tuesday’s game in Belgium. He converted four of his nine break points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and his only real struggle came sealing his victory. Munar saved five match points while serving in the final game before double-faulting in the sixth to give Lehecka the win.
“The first set was about what I allowed him to do, and in the second he improved a lot,” said Lehecka in his court interview. “I saw that it would be difficult for me to win the second set. We saw that he fought until the end. We played last week in Shanghai, and we both knew it was going to be a tough competition again, so it’s a great win for me and I’m very happy to be in the second round.”
With his 85-minute win, Lehecka moved up two spots to No. 31 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Waiting for the Czech in the second round in Antwerp will be Daniel Altmaier or home qualifier Gilles Arnaud Bailly. The 22-year-old, who is 25-15 in 2024, is chasing his second ATP Tour title of the year after winning his first tour crown in January in Adelaide.
“From the first day I came here I felt this happy,” said Lehecka, when asked how he felt about his first match against Antwerp. “I feel comfortable with the football and the conditions here in Antwerp. I felt good from the first minute I got here. A few good actions gave me a lot of confidence which I used today.”
