A week ago, Jiri Lehecka had never won a match at a grand slam tournament.
Ranked No.71 in the world, the 21-year-old Czech talent wasn’t considered a genuine threat to the men’s Australian Open title.
Fast forward to Sunday night and he is officially the tournament’s giant-slayer, and his odds are shortening by the day.
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Lehecka began the tournament by eliminating No.21 seed Borna Coric. He beat a wildcard in round two, then shocked No.11 seed Cameron Norrie in a round three five-set epic.
And on Sunday he claimed the biggest scalp of his career, ending the Open of No.6 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in a major Margaret Court Arena upset.
”It’s a name we all know now,” David Culbert said on Nine of the Czech player, who is writing the underdog story of the tournament.
Watch the Australian Open live and free on the Nine Network: Channel 9, 9Gem and 9NOW.
His opponent, while devastated about the loss, was full of praise for the rising Czech star.
“He’s been playing really good, and rising in the rankings,” Auger-Aliassime said.
“I remember seeing him last year around same time in Rotterdam. He made the semi-finals, and he was playing really well. I’m sure we will see a lot of him in the future.
“To be in those moments and to be cool under pressure, play well (on) the right points, serve well to close the match, it’s a good sign of a good player.”
Lehecka will play his first grand slame quarter-final in two days’ time.
His opponent will be either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Jannik Sinner.
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