Photo by Corinne Dubreuil/ABACAPRESS.COM
Daniil Medvedev vs Jiri Lehecka: ATP Madrid – quarterfinal
Former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev will take on Jiri Lehecka for a place in the semifinal at the ATP Madrid.
Daniil Medvedev Profile
Daniil Medvedev is currently fourth in the ATP rankings and is one of only a couple of active players who have been at the top of the rankings at a certain point in their career. The Russian is 22-5 for the season and 4-1 on clay courts.
He is coming off a 7-6, 6-4 win over Alexander Bublik. Previously in the tournament, Medvedev defeated Sebastian Korda and Matteo Arnaldi.
Medvedev lost both finals this season to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open and in Indian Wells to Carlos Alcaraz.
This is his fifth appearance in Madrid and his first quarterfinal in the Spanish capital.
Jiri Lehecka Profile
Jiri Lehecka is ranked 31st on the ATP list, eight spots lower than his career high. The player from the Czech Republic is 16-8 for the season and 3-0 on clay.
Lehecka is coming off an impressive 7-5, 6-4 win over five-time Madrid champion Rafael Nadal. Earlier in the tournament, he defeated Thiago Monteiro and Hamad Medjedovic.
This is the first tournament for Lehcka in over a month after he lost in the opening round in Miami to Alexei Popyrin.
Earlier this season, Lehecka reached the quarterfinals in Indian Wells and Dubai.
This is the second time for Lehecka to play in Madrid after he lost to Alexander Shevchenko in the second round last year.
Head-to-Head – Medvedev leads 1-0
- Medvedev vs Lehecka 6-4, 6-2 (2023 Wimbledon, round of 16)
Prediction and Conclusion
Daniil Medvedev has never won a title on clay, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to do that. The Russian has had a solid week and will face a player with a lack of experience who has been injured recently. However, Lehecka proved that he is one of the best young players in the world, beating Rafael Nadal in what would probably be the last match in Madrid for the 22-time Grand Slam champion. Lehecka deserves all the respect for that performance and how he handled the pressure, but it seems that he has reached his maximum in Madrid. Medvedev is simply the better player, hungry for success, and that will see him through to the semifinals.