WHAT HAPPENED: Both Andrey Rublev and Jiri Lehecka survived five-set, four-hour tests to advance to Round 3 at the 2024 US Open. Both players had to come back from two sets down to do it. Their previous head-to-head match-ups tell a similar story, with two wins each. And finally, both men are passionate players, with a spicy style of play—and (looking at you here, Rublev) a fiery way of expressing emotions on court.
On paper, Rublev, the No. 6 seed, had the edge over his Czech opponent, seeded No. 32. And in this surprisingly unspicy match, he kept that edge, winning it, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
From its outset, the mood of the mid-afternoon contest, played in the Grandstand, matched the weather: mild, drama-free. And the first seven games had the vibe of a practice session, with easy exchanges of groundstrokes and efficient holds of serve. Lehecka was the first to blink, donating a loose game when serving at 3-4 and giving Rublev the first break opportunity of the match. Rublev ran with it, winning his serve at love—two aces helped that effort—and taking the first set, 6-3.
New set, same story. The 26-year-old Rublev continued to dominate. But his lead seemed to give him the confidence to play with more aggression. His serving stats, especially, impressed. Not only had he hit six aces (and just one double fault) by the time the set tied at 2-2, but his wins rate on first serve soared to an astonishing 96%. Rublev’s 22-year-old opponent managed to match that ace count, but Lehecka’s winning percentage on his first serve hovered at around just 60%.
At the business end of the second set, with the score tied 5-5, Lehecka blinked again on serve. He had ad points in his favor, but Rublev continued to hit bigger from the baseline. To the Czech’s credit, he tried a variety of tactics, coming to the net, drop-shotting his opponent, and mixing up the pace. Nothing worked and he lost the game, handing Rublev the chance to serve out the set. Rublev did just that, taking it, 7-5.
The third set followed the same pattern—but with pressure applied by Rublev earlier and more relentlessly. For example, in the 10-minute game that started the set, Rublev failed to convert on his first break point chances. But he kept his cool and finally broke Lehecka, easily consolidating the break to go up 2-0.
Again, credit to Lehecka for problem-solving out there. Still in the earlier stages of his career, he proved that his prowess extends beyond a booming serve and flashy groundstrokes. Indeed, he was able to crack the Rublev offense in the fifth game of the third set, breaking his serve. With the set tied at 3-3, Lehecka hammered his 15th ace, while an agitated Rublev hit four forehand errors.
Rublev looked pensive as he stepped up to the service line at 5-4 and with the match on his racquet. He threw down an ace at 125 mph. The next serve was unreturned, too. After a nervous error, he found one more ace and took the set, 6-4, and the match.
After the match, Rublev responded to questions about his “calmer” approach to tennis, noting that while it doesn’t make him a better player, it does make him more consistent player.
“I’m not dropping the level,” said Rublev, explaining how frustration can lead to errors. “I’m able to keep the level.”
WHAT IT MEANS: Up next is No. 9 seed Grigor Dimitrov, who won his concurrent contest against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor. Rublev leads their head-to-head, 4-3. Most recently, Rublev beat Dimitrov in a Shanghai semifinal match in 2023. Another relevant win: At the 2017 US Open, Rublev defeated the Bulgarian on his way to his first quarterfinal match here.
Sharing his thoughts on his next opponent, Rublev called Dimitrov an “unbelievable player and a great friend.” He describes the 33-year-old's style as “quite similar” to his own, adding that “we both like to dictate with the forehand.”
MATCH POINT: Rublev has had some good results this year. He earned his second Masters 1000 title in Madrid, defeating defending champ and home hope Carlos Alcaraz. He reached the final in Montreal this summer, beating world No. 1 Jannik Sinner along the way. But—good news, bad news—across his career, he has advanced to quarterfinal matches in 10 major tournaments, all without achieving semifinalist status.
Can Rublev flip that script this year, authoring a run to the semifinals—and beyond?
