“I don’t want this to sound bad, but it’s the 600th in the world” | Relief

Despite being a relatively small country, the Czech Republic is one of the largest producers of tennis players in the world. While this is still a strength on the women’s field, the men’s team has not yet found a great tennis player after the departure of Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek. This gap is now waiting to be filled. Jiri Legecka, the man who Rafael Nadal will be measured on Tuesday (22:00 on Movistar+ and Teledeporte) in the 1/8 finals of the Mutua Madrid Open.

The owner of fast and electric tennis, with a serve that flies in Madrid, Lehecki has Berdych in his technical team (although he is not at Caja Mágica this week) and is very confident. “I don’t want to make it sound bad, but Nadal is number 600 in the world.”he said Monday night, buoyed by his victory over Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro and meeting the 22-time Grand Slam champion. He said this seriously, although he immediately laughed, as if trying to soften his words.”I have to be the favorite, but of course we know it’s Rafa and he’s on clay.

But I also know that I have the level to play good tennis here.”

Nadal, ranked exactly 512th in the world after almost two years away from competition, He is 15 years older than Lehecki and comes to the duel with a good blow to the body after fight over three hours on Monday against Pedro Cachin. For Leechka it doesn’t matter much: he knows that in front of him will be one of the greatest legends of his sport.

“This is a great honor and great experience for me, because we all know that Rafa on land is one of the biggest problems in tennis. Even if he is, let’s say, not having the best season. He got injured and everything… But after seeing his level in the match with De Minaur, I want to say that He came back and showed that he can play great tennis again.. It will be a great challenge for me and I will be very happy to share the court with him,” the Czech tennis player, ranked 31st in the world at 23 years old, told the media.

Lechecka, who was one of selected by Nadal to train in preparation for the clay court tour

, assured that during competitive training “it’s always different.” “When we were training, it was a training session, there was a lot of wind and the course was on a smaller course than the center course,” he explained. “It was training, so it’s something completely different. I think there is a huge difference with Rafa.” it makes a big difference if all the fans support him. “It will be completely different.”

“If we talk about the level he showed, he has definitely improved his game. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, p.but the draw was so easy in the first round helped him get back into shape, to find out your level. Then, against De Minaur, he showed great tennis and will continue to play at this level,” Lehecka analyzed.

Cech, however, believes that if there is a time and place to beat Nadal on land, it is now, and it is in Madrid, a place where the mountainous conditions make his tennis much less overwhelming. “I know it The conditions here in Madrid are some of the worst for clay court tennis.. Of course, if we were talking about Monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros, Barcelona… everything would be completely different. “I’ll go out on the court like I’m going to win and try to play my best tennis.”

Finally, Lehecka said one of his goals this year is to finish 2024 in the top 20.. “It is my goal. This is what I strive for. Of course, if things keep getting better and better, then my goals will change a little (…) Last year in Madrid I lost easily in the first round and stuff like that. They happened to me a couple of times. I think I’m on the right track, starting with Dubai, continuing to the US, and now we’ll see how it goes,” he said.