Jiri Lehecka defeated Arthur Fils, 6-2, 6-2, to reach his first career Masters 1000 final in Miami.
The Czech star will look to back up his countryman Jakub Mensik’s win last year when he takes on Jannik Sinner in the final.
Who wins Sunday’s Miami Open final?
If he can do so, he’ll help accomplish a feat last achieved by Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi.
Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik can match Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi’s Miami Open feat
Agassi and Roddick were the last two different players from the same country to win back-to-back Miami Open titles.
- 2001 – Andre Agassi
- 2002 – Andre Agassi
- 2003 – Andre Agassi
- 2004 – Andy Roddick
It seemed unlikely that anyone would match the Americans, but the Czechs now have a golden opportunity to do just that.
Mensik defeated Novak Djokovic to win the title last year, and now Lehecka is a win away from making it consecutive Miami Open titles for Czech players.
Interestingly enough, Czechia and the United States are the only two nations to have ever accomplished this feat.
- (CZE) 1986 Ivan Lendl – 1987 Miloslav Mecir
- (USA) 1990 Andre Agassi – 1991 Jim Courier
- (USA) 1991 Jim Courier – 1992 Michael Chang
- (USA) 1992 Michael Chang – 1993 Pete Sampras
- (USA) 1994 Pete Sampras – 1995 Andre Agassi
- (USA) 2000 Pete Sampras – 2001 Andre Agassi
- (USA) 2003 Andre Agassi – 2004 Andy Roddick
And the Czechs were the first, as Ivan Lendl and Miloslav Mecir won the second and third editions of the Miami Open.
Lendl beat Mats Wilander in the 1986 final before losing to his countryman, Mecir, in the 1987 final.
Can Lehecka follow in Mecir’s footsteps and win a second consecutive title for Czechia?
Only time will tell.
How can Jiri Lehecka trouble Jannik Sinner?
Lehecka hasn’t enjoyed much success when playing Sinner.
In three meetings, Lehecka has yet to win a set against the world number two.
Jiri Lehecka and Jannik Sinner’s head-to-head record
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2025 French Open – 3R | Jannik Sinner | Jiri Lehecka | 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 |
| 2024 China Open – QF | Jannik Sinner | Jiri Lehecka | 6-2, 7-6 |
| 2024 Indian Wells – QF | Jannik Sinner | Jiri Lehecka | 6-3, 6-3 |
His defeat at last year’s French Open was particularly humbling, as he won just three games in a comprehensive defeat.
“He’s playing amazing, today he was 100% dominant on court. He did everything well,” said Lehecka during his post-match press conference.
“I felt like I was playing against myself, but he’s two times better at everything.”
If Lehecka is to deliver a better performance this time around, perhaps he should take note of what another Czech-born tennis icon, Martina Navratilova, said recently.
After watching his quarterfinal win over Frances Tiafoe, Navratilova suggested the only way Sinner can be challenged.
“I think the only way you can really bother him is bring him on the diagonal, hit that short slice backhand for a right-hander, to his backhand, then try to go down, deep, the other line, but it’s hard to find that angle,” she said.
There is another way you can hurt Sinner…
Can anyone stop Jannik Sinner from winning the Sunshine Double?
The Italian beat Alexander Zverev in straight sets to reach the final, but looked visibly fatigued in the second set.
On several occasions this year, Sinner has struggled physically, a weakness that few have capitalised on.
If Lehecka can force Sinner to play extended rallies, pushing him to the limits, maybe, just maybe, he might have a chance.
Unfortunately for Lehecka, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be hot for the final.
In fact, there is a chance their championship showdown will be affected by rain delays.
It remains to be seen what Lehecka can do to trouble Sinner in the Miami Open final, but if he can pull off the upset, he will certainly go down in Czech tennis history!
Sinner and Lehecka will face off for the title on Sunday, March 29.
