Jiri Lehecka is a Czech professional tennis player who was born on November 8, 2001, in Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic. Sporting influence was always very strong in the Lehecka household for Jiri, who was born to two athletes. His father was a swimmer, while his mother was a track and field professional.
This had a great impact on the Czech, who first picked up a racquet at the age of just three after being inspired by seeing his sister taught by their grandmother. On the junior tour until 2020, Lehecka quickly turned professional officially in 2020.
He spent his first couple of years going deep in the ATP Challenger tournaments, as well as being given his chances at Grand Slam qualifying events in order to help him gain a foothold on the ladder. 2022 was certainly a breakthrough year for the Czech, with him qualifying for the Australian Open main draw, losing in the first round to seasoned pro, Grigor Dimitrov.
His first chance to really write a name for himself was back in Europe, at the Rotterdam Open. He paved his way to the tournament’s semifinal, seeing off players of the caliber such as Corentin Moutet, Denis Shapovalov, and Lorenzo Musetti. This impressive run massively helped his ranking, gaining him automatic qualification to the main ATP events.
After a stellar season in 2022, he managed to qualify himself for the end-of-season Next Gen ATP Finals in a run that took him all the way to the final. He managed to carry this form into the 2023 season, with him achieving his best-ever run at a Grand Slam to reach the Australian Open quarterfinal.
One year later and Down Under once more, the Czech made clear he feels at home in Australia, winning his first-ever ATP title when he saw off Jack Draper in the final of the Adelaide International. This victory propelled him to his then career-high ranking of 23 in the world, as well as consolidating his spot as the top Czech player on the ATP Tour.
A bright future certainly lies ahead for the Czech youngster, who will look to build on his successes at the big tournaments, namely the ATP Masters 1000 and the Grand Slams.
