ATP roundup: Jiri Lehecka pulls off upset at Dubai

Tennis – ATP 500 – Dubai Tennis Championships – Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – February 28, 2024 Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka in action during his round of 16 match against Russia’s Karen Khachanov REUTERS/Amr Alfiky

Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic racked up 16 aces and rallied from an early deficit to pick up a 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over fourth-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov on Wednesday in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Tennis – ATP 500 – Dubai Tennis Championships – Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – February 28, 2024 Russia’s Karen Khachanov in action during his round of 16 match against Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka REUTERS/Amr Alfiky

Lehecka also saved nine of 11 break points and collected 53 winners to pull off the day’s only upset. He trailed 4-2 in the third set but proceeded to win the final four games to punch his ticket to the quarterfinals, where he will face seventh seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan.

Tennis – ATP 500 – Dubai Tennis Championships – Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – February 28, 2024 Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in action during his round of 16 match against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File Photo

Bublik was a 7-6 (8), 7-6 (2) winner over the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor on Wednesday.

No. 1 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia and countryman Andrey Rublev, the No. 2 seed, also made it through the second round. Medvedev fought back to oust Italian Lorenzo Sonego 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, while Rublev swept French qualifier Arthur Cazaux 6-4, 6-4.

In other action, No. 3 seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, fifth-seeded Frenchman Ugo Humbert, eight-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and the United States’ Sebastian Korda all prevailed.

Movistar Chile Open

Spain’s Pedro Martinez outlasted sixth seed Facundo Diaz Acosta of Argentina for a 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-1 win in second-round action in Santiago, Chile.

After the first two sets were competitive, Martinez ran away with the third to cap a marathon match that lasted 3 hours, 8 minutes. He will next face third-seeded Frenchman Arthur Fils, who defeated Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday.

Qualifier Corentin Moutet of France toppled Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2, and No. 1 seed Nicolas Jarry of Chile was set to face Argentina’s Federico Coria later Wednesday night.

Tennis – ATP 500 – Dubai Tennis Championships – Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates – February 26, 2024 Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in action during his round of 32 match against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo

–Field Level Media

Tennis – U.S. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – August 29, 2023 France’s Corentin Moutet in action during his first round match against Britain’s Andy Murray REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Paris Masters – AccorHotels Arena, Paris, France – October 31, 2023 France’s Arthur Fils in action during his round of 64 match against Germany’s Daniel Altmaier REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo