A week ago, he had never won a grand slam match

1 year ago 56

A week ago, Jiri Lehecka had ne'er won a lucifer astatine a expansive slam tournament.

Ranked No.71 successful the world, the 21-year-old Czech endowment wasn't considered a genuine menace to the men's Australian Open title.

Fast guardant to Sunday nighttime and helium is officially the tournament's giant-slayer, and his likelihood are shortening by the day.

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Lehecka began the tourney by eliminating No.21 effect Borna Coric. He bushed a wildcard successful circular two, past shocked No.11 effect Cameron Norrie successful a circular 3 five-set epic.

And connected Sunday helium claimed the biggest scalp of his career, ending the Open of No.6 effect Felix Auger-Aliassime successful a large Margaret Court Arena upset.

"It's a sanction we each cognize now," David Culbert said connected Nine of the Czech player, who is penning the underdog communicative of the tournament.

Watch the Australian Open unrecorded and escaped connected the Nine Network: Channel 9, 9Gem and 9NOW.

His opponent, portion devastated astir the loss, was afloat of praise for the rising Czech star.

"He's been playing truly good, and rising successful the rankings," Auger-Aliassime said.

"I retrieve seeing him past twelvemonth astir aforesaid clip successful Rotterdam. He made the semi-finals, and helium was playing truly well. I'm definite we volition spot a batch of him successful the future.

"To beryllium successful those moments and to beryllium chill nether pressure, play good (on) the close points, service good to adjacent the match, it's a bully motion of a bully player."

Lehecka volition play his archetypal expansive slame quarter-final successful 2 days' time.

His hostile volition beryllium either Stefanos Tsitsipas oregon Jannik Sinner.

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