Jiri Lehecka arranges Novak Djokovic clash!

The twenty fourth seed Jiri Lehecka is thru to his second Australian Open fourth spherical inside three years. The Brisbane Worldwide champion confronted Benjamin Bonzi within the third spherical and delivered a dominant 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 victory in an hour and 47 minutes.

The Czech will face the last word problem whereas looking for his second quarter-final in Melbourne, with the ten-time Main winner Novak Djokovic standing throughout the online! The veteran would be the favourite, however the younger gun will attempt to make him run for his cash. 

Lehecka made the distinction in opposition to Bonzi along with his first serve. He fired 33 winners and 22 unforced errors, taming his strokes properly and defending each break factors to maintain the strain on the opposite aspect. 

Victoire expéditive de Jiri Lehecka qui met fin au parcours de Benjamin Bonzi 🇫🇷 en trois units (6-2, 6-3, 6-3) et se qualifie en 1/8 de finale de l’#AusOpen 

Le Tchèque atteint ce stade en Grand Chelem pour la troisième fois de sa carrière, la deuxième à Melbourne. 🇨🇿 pic.twitter.com/oN0xZT9Qc8

— José Mukeba (@jose_mukeba6) January 17, 2025

Bonzi couldn’t reply and make the duel extra fascinating. He sprayed 30 unforced errors and gave away 41% of the factors in his video games. The Frenchman confronted eight break factors and misplaced serve 5 occasions to finish his marketing campaign within the third spherical.

The higher-ranked participant cast the benefit within the shortest and mid-range exchanges, controlling the scoreboard and transferring excessive in fashion. Jiri stepped in on the return within the first recreation of the match, incomes three break factors.

He seized the final after the rival’s wayward forehand, delivering an early benefit. The Czech served nicely in video games two and 4, opening a 3-1 lead. The twenty fourth seed made one other push on the return within the fifth recreation.

Benjamin netted a backhand, dropping serve and falling 4-1 behind. Lehecka wasted recreation factors within the sixth recreation and skilled the primary break level after a double fault. Jiri denied it with a well-constructed assault and a volley winner on the web.

He closed the sport with a drop shot winner, transferring 5-1 in entrance. Lehecka served for the opener and held at 30, transferring 6-4 up in 34 minutes. Benjamin missed a break level within the third recreation of the second set and confronted a break level.

The Czech cracked a forehand crosscourt winner, opening a set and a break benefit. Jiri denied a break level within the subsequent one to cement the break and produced a maintain at love two video games later for 4-2. Lehecka landed a behind-the-back volley winner in recreation eight for 5-3.

He stepped in on the return within the ninth recreation and welcomed the rival’s forehand error, transferring two units to like in entrance after 68 minutes. Jiri served nicely early within the third set and secured a break at 3-2 when Benjamin positioned a backhand huge. 

The Frenchman served to remain within the match in recreation eight and confronted a match level after one other free groundstroke. He denied it with a volley winner and held to remain in competition. The Czech served for the win at 5-3.

He claimed an entertaining level on a match level for a spot within the final 16, arranging the conflict in opposition to Novak Djokovic.