In a surprising turn of events, world no. 36 Jiri Lehecka has announced his split from former world no. 4 Tomas Berdych. The veteran Czech, now the Czech Republic’s Davis Cup captain, has decided to focus on his new role, leading to the mutual agreement to end his collaboration with the young compatriot.
Their partnership began in Monte Carlo in 2023, a move that proved fruitful as Lehecka went on to reach the Winston-Salem final just four months later. This success catapulted the 22-year-old to the brink of the top-30 by the end of the season, setting the stage for a promising start to the 2024 campaign.
The breakthrough came in Adelaide, where Lehecka clinched his maiden ATP title after defeating the likes of Nicolas Jarry, Sebastian Korda, and Jack Draper. His rise continued as he entered the top-30 and scored impressive victories over Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas in Indian Wells.
However, the true test of his mettle came at the Madrid Masters, where he stunned the tennis world by toppling both Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev on his way to the semi-finals. Unfortunately, his dream run was cut short as he was forced to retire in the opening set against Felix Auger-Aliassime due to a stress fracture in his vertebra.
The injury sidelined Lehecka for nearly four months, causing him to miss out on major events such as Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the Olympic Games. It was not until his return to action in Cincinnati that fans got to see the young Czech back on the court.
With his professional relationship with Berdych now in the past, Lehecka faces a new chapter in his career as he strives to make his mark on the tennis world as an independent force. The future looks bright for the rising star, and fans can expect more thrilling performances as he continues to climb the ranks in pursuit of greatness.