Match Details
Fixture: Frances Tiafoe vs Jiri Lehecka
Date: August 16, 2024
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2024
Round: Third Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Ohio, USA
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize money: $6,795,555
Live telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | Canada – TSN | UK – Sky UK | India – Sony Liv
Frances Tiafoe vs Jiri Lehecka preview
The third round of the 2024 Cincinnati Open will see Frances Tiafoe take on Jiri Lehecka. The American has started to turn his season around in the last few weeks, as he reached the semifinals of the Citi Open, and showed good form during his match against Sebastian Korda. Also, despite losing, Tiafoe played a fine game against Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon.
However, as seen throughout his 2024 season, the American’s impressive performances were followed by disappointments, as he suffered a first-round exit against Alejandro Tabilo at the Canadian Open.
However, he secured a straight-sets victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the first round of the Cincinnati Open. The American’s most impressive win came in the next round when he defeated an In-form Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-2.
Jiri Lehecka is returning to the ATP Tour after almost three months of absence at the Cincinnati Open. In the brief period he was active during the early part of the year, the Czech won the Adelaide International and reached the semifinals of the Madrid Open.
Lehecka began his Cincinnati campaign with a straight-set win over Mariano Navonne in the first round. The Czech player then upset fourth seed Daniil Medvedev in the second round, winning 7-6(2), 6-4.
Frances Tiafoe vs Jiri Lehecka head-to-head
Tiafoe leads 1-0 in the head-to-head between the two, having won their only prior encounter 7-6(2), 6-4 in the second round of the BOSS Open in Stuttgart last season.
Frances Tiafoe vs Jiri Lehecka odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Frances Tiafoe vs Jiri Lehecka prediction
Serving well has always been Tiafoe’s strength. Against Musetti, the American player won 78 percent of the total service points, including a very impressive 84 percent win rate on his first serve. Tiafoe was proficient at the net as well, approaching 20 times in the match, winning 70 percent of the net points.
Against Medvedev, Lehcka won 75 percent of his first serve points. The Czech kept his composure in the pressure moments, as against an able returner like Medvedev, he was able to save all five break opportunities that he faced on his serve. However, returning was a point of weakness for Lehecka, as he could only win 30 percent of total return points.
If Tiafoe, keeps up his serving standards, then it will be very difficult for Lehecka to hold his serve. The American’s improved net play will also give him an edge in the return games. With the crow support behind him, Tiafoe should manage to get the win and reach the quarterfinals in Cincinnati.
Pick- Tiafoe to win in straight sets
