Andrey Rublev and Jiri Lehecka meet in Friday's US Open third round after coming through epic five-set comebacks in round two.
The Russian needed four hours and six minutes to overcome Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, while Lehecka recovered from a second-set bagel to beat American qualifier Mitchell Krueger in under four hours.
Match preview
© Imago
Rublev secured the second victory of his career from two sets down in Wednesday's thrilling five-set victory over Rinderknech to avoid an early exit at the final Major of 2024 as he notched a 4-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory.
His first turnaround from two-sets-to-love down came in the first round of Roland Garros in 2020 against Sam Querrey, but the No. 6 seed did not have to overcome gruelling conditions four years back.
The three-time quarter-finalist in Queens heads into this year's round three encounter with Lehecka keen to reach a third straight last-eight match at Flushing Meadows, and he has to defeat his Czech opponent and either Tallon Griekspoor or Grigor Dimitrov in the next round if he makes it past Friday's opponent.
Rublev has already outdone his Wimbledon performance — where the 2023 quarter-finalist exited in his tournament opener at the Championships — although it remains to be seen if the No. 6 seed suffers another early exit when compared to his runs in consecutive years in New York.
Despite never making a Grand Slam semi-final, Rublev has statistically fared the best in the final major of the year, and he aims to keep that going by beating Lehecka in their fifth meeting on the ATP Tour.
His Czech opponent had a comeback of his own in round two by defeating American qualifier Krueger after responding to an alarming collapse from the backend of the opening set through the start of the third to win 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.
Lehecka led 6-5 in set one, only to lose 11 consecutive games but recovered from a second-set bagel and 3-0 down in the third to overwhelm the second-time US Open debutant.
The upshot of the No. 32 seed's win on Wednesday means he has bettered his best Slam showing of 2024, after exiting in round two at the Australian Open and missing the French Open and Wimbledon due to a lingering back injury.
Back from the layoff that also ruled him out of the Paris 2024 Olympics, the 22-year-old has already outdone two consecutive round-one eliminations in 2022 and 2023 to make it this far but now seeks more to continue a winning run in Queens having never won a match at the US Open before this year's tournament.
Tournament so far
Andrey Rublev:
First round: vs. Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-3 7-6[3] 7-5
Second round: vs. Arthur Rinderknech 4-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 6-2
Jiri Lehecka:
First round: vs. Marton Fucsovics 1-6 6-4 6-3 3-0 ret
Second round: vs. Mitchell Krueger 6-7[5] 0-6 6-4 6-4 7-5
Head To Head
Serbia Open (2022) - Round of 16: Rublev 4-6 7-6(1) 6-2
Qatar Open (2023) - Quarter-final: Lehecka 4-6 6-4 6-3
Indian Wells (2023) - Round of 64: Rublev 6-4 6-2
Indian Wells (2024) - Round of 32: Lehecka 6-4 6-4
Despite facing four times on Tour, Friday's match between Rublev and Lehecka will be their first at a Grand Slam.
Currently tied 2-2 in their head-to-head, the victor at the US Open secures a place in the fourth round and edges ahead in their rivalry.
Both have had plenty of practice against the other on hard courts, with three of their four meetings coming on the surface, with Lehecka winning twice either side of Rublev's victory at Indian Wells last year.
The Czech player won their recent encounter in straight sets in a rematch at Indian Wells.
We say: Rublev to win in four sets
Regardless of being tied with Rublev in their head-to-head, Lehecka heads into Friday's match as the underdog, due to his previous losing streak at the Slam and only just returning from a back injury.
Given the Russian's know-how at Flushing Meadows, we are backing the No. 6 seed to secure the victory for a fourth-round place.
