Lehecka conquers Nakashima 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to succeed in Indian Wells third spherical
Brandon Nakashima from California, gained the NextGen ATP Finals within the fall of 2022 however has since struggled to search out the extent that catapulted him to #43 on the age of twenty. That very same yr on residence soil in San Diego, he gained his lone title to date.
His rating dropped precipitously to #151 final November however has climbed to #93 attributable to his current success on the Challenger Tour. On the season’s first ATP Masters 1000 occasion, he entered the primary draw as a wild card.
Jiri Lehecka additionally twenty-two, has been making his personal noise the final two years due partially to his excellent performances on the 2023 Australian Open the place he reached the quarters (l. Tsitsipas) and the 4th spherical at Wimbledon (l. Medvedev through ret). The Czech native completed final season ranked #31 with a powerful 34-26 w/l file.
At first of this season, he gained his first title in Adelaide (d. Draper) and because of this, attained a career-high rating of #23. His rating has since dropped to #32, unable to defend quarterfinal factors on the Australian Open, and with one other retirement final week in Dubai, his health may very well be in doubt.
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This was their fourth assembly and second at tour degree. Nakashima led the head-to-head 2-1 together with two straight-set victories (RR & ultimate) on the 2022 NextGen ATP Finals whereas Lehecka prevailed in three tight units final summer season on the Masters 1000 occasion in Canada.
The American gained the toss and elected to serve. He missed 5/8 first serves, gifted 4 unforced errors, and dumped serve. Lehecka donated two unforced errors together with a double fault and gave again the break.
Nakashima made 5/5 first serves together with an ace up the tee on sport level and Lehecka returned the favor with an ace up the tee to degree at 2-2. Nakashima missed 5/10 first serves and confronted two deuce factors but held for 3-2 whereas his opponent gifted three unforced errors together with one other double fault and dropped serve.
Nakashima made 4/5 first serves and held simply to consolidate the break for 5-2 and Lehecka, serving to remain within the set, held at love for 3-5. After thirty-seven minutes, little to no drama, and his first forehand winner, Nakashima secured the set 6-3.
The #32 seed served first within the second and with a candy forehand drop volley, held to 15 whereas Nakashima opened with an error, his first double fault, confronted deuce but held.
Lehecka made 3/5 first serves and with an overhead smash held to 15 for 2-1 whereas Nakashima crushed an overhead smash and held to 30 for parity.
Whereas each struck the ball with conviction and tempo, the match teetered on tedious; at instances, the Indian Wells crowd appeared extra engaged than the gamers. Nerves; maybe. Nakashima competing in his residence state in entrance of a partisan crowd, whereas Lehecka the ultimate seed within the draw, is enjoying underneath the burden of expectation.
Lehecka opened the fifth with two consecutive errors however together with his second ace, held for 3-2. Nakashima opened with a netted forehand however together with his second ace, held simply to 15 for 3-3.
Lehecka upping the ante, struck two excellent forehands and an ace out broad for 4-3 whereas Nakashima succumbed to the strain with 4 unforced errors to dump serve.
Lehecka served for the set and regardless of two further errors together with his third double fault, clinched it 6-3 with a well-placed serve and inside-out forehand.
The American served first within the decider and wished he hadn’t; with a slew of second serves, he confronted deuce, break level, and dumped serve with a mishit forehand.
Lehecka opened and closed his first service sport with aces and consolidated the break at love. Nakashima, with the group in his nook, missed 4/6 first serves however with an unbelievable backhand stab volley winner, held to 30 to get on the board.
With the stakes exceedingly excessive, the combatants have been on excessive alert. Lehecka demonstrated bodily and psychological tenacity within the fourth sport of the ultimate set. He made 12/18 first serves together with his sixth ace however together with his fourth double fault got here a second break level. With persistence, energy, and two consecutive winners, he survived and held for 3-1.
Whereas the American’s serve continued to betray him, he managed to carry for 2-3. The primary level of the seventh sport was jaw-dropping as each scrambled from nook to nook whereas dialing up the tempo and strain.
Lehecka decided to finish the purpose on the internet, stood and watched as Nakashima ripped a rare forehand move down the road. He struck two winners together with his seventh ace however with three consecutive errors together with his fifth double fault, dumped serve.
The partisan crowd loud and proud, showered their native son with cheers and applause as he made 4/4 first serves together with two aces to consolidate the break at love. The momentum appeared to have shifted in his favor, however Lehecka remained steadfast. Serving with new balls, the world #31 hit two consecutive winners together with an ace out broad to degree at 4-4.
Nakashima made 3/5 first serves however with 4 unforced errors confronted triple break level and dropped serve. Lehecka opened the tenth with a crisp crosscourt backhand volley and after 2 ¼ hours, secured the set and the third spherical when Nakashima missed broad with a backhand down the line.
Lehecka completed with eight aces, and 5 double faults and gained 68% of first and 55% of second serve factors. He struck 22 winners to fifteen unforced errors and saved 2/5 break factors whereas changing 4/6. The stats point out that it was a stable efficiency, however he might want to higher navigate the inevitable swings in momentum and focus to additional progress.
Subsequent up is the 5th seed, Andrey Rublev. The Russian has been enjoying exceedingly properly this season with a title in Hong Kong to open the season, the quarters on the Australian Open, Rotterdam, and Doha, and an inexplicable default within the semis in Dubai. Rublev’s greatest efficiency within the desert was in 2022 when he misplaced within the semis to eventual champion, Taylor Fritz.
The Russian leads the Czech 2-1 within the head-to-head together with a straight units win within the second spherical at Indian Wells final yr. This guarantees to be a high-octane battle between two worthy combatants.