“Sharing the court with such a legendary player is a dream”: the story of Jiri Lehecka, Nadal’s young tormentor during his last match in Spain

Twelve thousand people chanted in support of their rival as he prepared to close out the match. At 22 years old and with only a few seasons at the highest level, the scene was not only new for Jiri Lehecka (31st ATP), but also intimidating. He himself admitted it during the press conference after the duel, the one that undoubtedly positions itself as the most relevant of his career. Not because of the instance or the ranking of his rival, but because of the whole context.

And the Czech did not face just any player in the round of 16 of the Madrid Open. He did it against Rafael Nadal (512°), the greatest Spanish tennis player in history. As if that wasn’t enough, the 22-time Grand Slam champion had also made it clear that this would be his last stop in his country’s capital as a professional.

All these factors gave Lehecka’s victory a special value in modern tennis. Even if he didn’t face the best Nadal in history, he faced a player driven by the scene, who is sometimes reminiscent of the one who won 14 Roland Garros. But The young man resisted and was the executioner of one of his great idols . In fact, at the time of the tribute that the tournament was preparing for Rafa, he also seemed very excited.

He dove into all these emotions during the press conference. “It’s been incredible. For me, sharing a pitch with such a legendary player is a dream come true. I always dreamed of this happening and it happened today. I am very grateful to have reached such an important milestone. . But I wish Nadal all the best. It’s a little bittersweet to get this win with everyone cheering you on. The energy here is incredible, it was like being in another universe. It’s something I haven’t experienced in my life on a tennis court,” he said.

Special moment, which crowns a last dream year for the one who was born in Mladá Boleslav. Since he surprised the planet with his presence in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Australian Open, when he is only 71st in the world, he has experienced a sustained rise on the circuit, adding a final the last year in Winston Salem and his first ATP title early. of 2024, when Adelaide was champion. Just a few months ago he reached the round of 16 at the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells.

Even though these instances gave him friction with the best, many wonder how he managed to remain calm in the face of the tension experienced this Tuesday at the Honest Box. Without any problem, the Czech delivered his recipe at a press conference, admitting that there are things he still does not understand. “Twelve or thirteen thousand people shouting “Rafa!” Rafa! » before serving… I tried to imagine that they were encouraging me, because if I thought otherwise I might fail . “I don’t know how I managed to get it, but it shows that I gained experience over the last two years and knew how to apply it today,” he said. -he declares.

But one of his most controversial sentences during the press conference is also the explanation (in part) of his media victory in the Spanish capital. When asked if he would have asked Nadal for a souvenir like Cachín (91st) in the third round after the match, Lehecka was completely honest, clarifying that he hadn’t even thought about it because he was only worried that to beat him. . “If you’re playing a match and you’re thinking about asking your opponent something, it’s a bit strange in my opinion. It’s difficult for me, because I went on the field to win. If you go out to win, it’s hard for me to chase him down and ask him if he can give me something. “I don’t know, I don’t want to sound disrespectful, but it’s the last thing I would do.” he admitted.

Lehecka will play again this Thursday in Madrid, where he will face Russian Daniil Medvedev (4th) in the round of 16. For both, it will be a key duel. While the Czech has the chance to surpass his best performance in a Masters 1000, the Muscovite, US Open champion in 2021, will be the new world number three.

Rafael Nadal left Madrid with fewer doubts than he arrived, but still without being able to define what his last professional year will look like. The Spaniard remains cautious about his presence at Roland Garros, but he admits to having taken a step forward in the Caja Mágica, which seemed practically impossible a few weeks ago.

“I have taken steps forward in all directions and we must now consolidate this progress. I arrived in Madrid with doubts in every respect and I leave with fewer doubts . The first set with Lehecka was the best I’ve played since I started competing again. “It was the day I was in the best position on the court,” said the Spaniard after his elimination in Madrid, the third tournament he is playing this year after having to withdraw from the Open. Australia, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo.

A message that excites and helps erase the statements that Manacorí made before his debut in Madrid, an event he won five times. “Today I will not play in Paris,” admitted Nadal, who explained that not being competitive, he was not going to go to Roland Garros to play for the last time in the big one he has conquered 14 times.

Although he has not yet confirmed his presence at Roland-Garros, he specifies that His wish is to play the Masters 1000 in Rome next week and after that he will only decide if he will play the second Grand Slam of the season.

In any case, the sensations are so positive that even Nadal dared to mention his participation in the Davis Cup which takes place at the end of September. “This is not 100% ruled out. ″, mentioned, specifying in any case that today it is a utopia.

Where he focuses his energies is on his participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he dreams of playing doubles with Carlos Alcaraz (3rd). If this happens, it will be Rafa’s third appearance in the ring event, where he has two gold medals. The first was achieved in singles in 2008 against Fernando González and the second in doubles in 2016 with Marc López.