In an impressive display at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic orchestrated a stunning upset by defeating fourth-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov. Lehecka’s remarkable performance featured 16 aces, saving nine of 11 break points, and amassing 53 winners, securing a hard-fought victory with a scoreline of 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5), 6-4. Despite trailing 4-2 in the third set, Lehecka rallied to win the final four games, earning him a spot in the quarterfinals, where he will face seventh seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan.
Bublik advanced with a 7-6 (8), 7-6 (2) victory over the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor. The top seeds also had successful outings, with No. 1 seed Daniil Medvedev overcoming Italian Lorenzo Sonego 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, and No. 2 seed Andrey Rublev securing a 6-4, 6-4 win against French qualifier Arthur Cazaux. Other winners in the second round included No. 3 seed Hubert Hurkacz, fifth-seeded Ugo Humbert, eighth-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and the United States’ Sebastian Korda.
Movistar Chile Open: Pedro Martinez Prevails in Marathon Match
In a marathon second-round match at the Movistar Chile Open, Spain’s Pedro Martinez emerged victorious against sixth-seeded Facundo Diaz Acosta of Argentina. Martinez secured a hard-fought win with a scoreline of 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-1. The match, lasting 3 hours and 8 minutes, saw Martinez dominating the third set after competitive initial sets. He is set to face third-seeded Frenchman Arthur Fils in the next round, who secured a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild. Additionally, French qualifier Corentin Moutet defeated Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2, while No. 1 seed Nicolas Jarry of Chile was scheduled to face Argentina’s Federico Coria later in the evening.
