“I must say that the only performance where I wasn’t really feeling good was the first round against Borna, which, of course was a tough match because he’s a very experienced player. It was also a first-round match, so you never know what tot expect. Since that moment, I added a couple more practices and with every match I’m feeling better and better, so I’m very happy with the progress.”
That progress is a continuation of momentum that first began earlier this summer in Queen’s Club, where he reached his first ATP 500 final and played Alcaraz for a second time this season, this time pushing him to three sets.
“I must say that I’m very happy that I had a chance to play against him this year already twice…Of course, I know that he’s playing very good tennis. He’s moving very well. He can serve big. He knows everything. His game is complete, I would say.
“So, for me I will just try to stick to the weapons that I have, to the weapons which worked for me in these last two matchups. We will see, of course. We have never played each other on a Grand Slam stage. So that’s something new for me and for him as well, because we played each other only on, let’s say, smaller tournaments. I think that the match will be great, and I can’t wait for it.”
Should he pull off the upset against Alcaraz, a former champion who is yet to lost a set in New York, Lehecka might be wise to keep any new secrets he learns to himself.
