Lehecka weathers Mannarino surge to reach maiden US Open quarter-finals
Jiri Lehecka survived a trademark late-match fight from French veteran Adrian Mannarino on Sunday, securing a 7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 victory
Jiri Lehecka, 2025 | © Imago / PsNewz
Jiri Lehecka weathered a spirited comeback from Adrian Mannarino to secure a thrilling four-set victory, 7-6(4), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, and book his place in the quarterfinals of the US Open on Sunday. The three-hour and 14-minute battle on Louis Armstrong Stadium saw the Czech prodigy outlast the French veteran in a match defined by Lehecka’s power and Mannarino’s guile.
The victory marks a significant milestone for the 23-year-old Lehecka, who reaches the US Open quarter-finals for the first time in his career. It also continues a strong Grand Slam season for Lehecka, who previously made the fourth round at the Australian Open and the third round at Roland-Garros. His win also solidifies his rise in the ATP Live Rankings, where he will make his Top 20 debut after the tournament.
“I am delighted and especially pleased with how I came back after losing set three and going a break down in four,” Lehecka said in his post-match interview. The Czech also noted that a main objective for the year was to break into the Top 20, a goal he will now achieve with this performance.
Mannarino was chasing history
Mannarino, on his side, was chasing history, aiming to become the oldest first-time men’s Grand Slam quarter-finalist in the Open Era. With no previous matches between the two, the court was a blank canvas for a fresh rivalry.
Lehecka’s power game was on full display as he pounded the ball with authority, racking up a stunning 56 winners throughout the match, compared to Mannarino’s 18. However, Mannarino’s exceptional return game kept him in contention, as he converted on a remarkable 71% of his break-point opportunities.
The Czech’s booming serves were a key weapon, with Lehecka winning an impressive 72% of his first-serve points, but Mannarino’s counter-punching ability led to a back-and-forth exchange of breaks. Lehecka managed to break the Frenchman’s serve six times in the match, while Mannarino found a way to break Lehecka five times.
Lehecka’s maturity
The first set went to a tie-break, which Lehecka clinched with a powerful forehand winner. Lehecka carried the momentum into the second set, securing an early break and maintaining his lead to win it 6-4. It seemed as though the Czech was on his way to a comfortable victory, but Mannarino, as he has so many times in his career, found a way to turn the tables. In the third set, the veteran’s defensive wizardry and slice-and-dice game started to frustrate Lehecka, who began to commit more unforced errors. Mannarino broke twice and took the third set 6-2, breathing new life into the contest.
The French veteran’s improbable surge continued at the start of the fourth, as he broke Lehecka’s serve and took a 2-0 lead. A sense of déjà vu hung in the air, reminiscent of Mannarino’s previous round where he came back from two sets to one down against Ben Shelton. However, Lehecka demonstrated the maturity that has been a hallmark of his 2025 season. He immediately broke back, finding his rhythm once again with his powerful groundstrokes. From that moment on, Lehecka seized control, winning six consecutive games to close out the set 6-2 and the match.
Lehecka’s run at the US Open continues, as he now looks ahead to a quarter-final clash against Carlos Alcaraz or Arthur Rinderknech.
