AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 25, 2023

Jiri Lehecka

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/J. Lehecka

6-3, 7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Jiri, tough loss today. Of course, a great run to the quarterfinals here at the Australian Open. How do you reflect on your time here in Australia?

JIRI LEHECKA: Yeah, I think that for me it will be much more easier to reflect after some time because now it still hurts a lot, this loss.

But when I think about it, of course, I mean, if somebody has told me before the tournament that I would play quarters here, I would take it for sure.

But, yeah, now it's bittersweet because I can't still enjoy the success. Now it's hard for me to say how happy I am about it.

But I think that for sure in next few days I will get through all these situations again, and I think that it was a great run here. I enjoyed may whole stay here in Australia.

Of course, quarters is a great result for me. I'm very happy that I showed some decent tennis through these two weeks. Of course, I gained a lot of new experiences and a lot of new things, how to improve something, yeah, some stuff from which I can learn.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How far or how close do you feel your quality was to Stefanos tonight?

JIRI LEHECKA: It was a very close but very far at the same time. I mean, at the beginning of the match he started as a better player, as a more experienced player. He started with more calmness. He started with being very - how to say - straight in what he wants to do.

For me, I had the chance to play my warmup at the court Rod Laver. But when all these fans are over there, when it's fully crowded, it's a bit different. So I was trying to find my pace over there. I was trying to get used to the rhythm and to his tactics.

Yeah, in the first set, it was that one break which cost me that set. The second set, I think it was a really good level from both of us. There was a lot of moments where he was struggling and where I put him under pressure also on his serve.

Then when we came in the tiebreak, he just played better over there. I made few mistake, but the main thing is that he worked well with his forehand, he went for it. He wasn't scared to go for the point.

I think that today he really played very, very well from his forehand side, which it wasn't very good for my game to be under pressure from every forehand he played.

Yeah, it was a tough match. I had some chances. But, yeah, he was more experienced and better player today.

Q. What did you make of the moments where you were up Love-40 a couple times?

JIRI LEHECKA: Yeah, today's match was for me only about breaking his serve. I had some chances. I had a lot of break points. I didn't use any one of them. That's a big shame. It's a pity that it didn't happen.

When I take a look back in time what I could have done better, then probably try to be a bit more patient. Twice I tried to go for it from a second serve. It didn't work well.

I mean, for me it's tough to say right now because I knew that even if I put it in, he goes for it immediately from his forehand side, and he will go for it. I knew that it's his big weapon today.

We saw when I had 40-15 in the first or second set, I'm not sure now, where I put a really solid return in, and he just played straight winner from his forehand. That was something, a situation where I can just clap my hands and say, all right, he played really well.

I need to take a look at the match again on this situation. I need to reflect with my team about what I could have done better. Now it's tough for me to say.

Q. Did you feel intimidated at all? Were you in awe of the moment?

JIRI LEHECKA: Me? Honestly, I enjoyed it a lot. I enjoyed the crowd. I enjoyed the arena. It's one of the nicest tennis courts in the world. To have the privilege to play quarterfinal of Australian Open on the one of the biggest stages on the world, it was a big privilege.

I tried to enjoy that as much as I could. Fans were amazing. The support which I gained from all the fans on the court was just massive. Now I'm just very sad that I didn't win at least one set to be able to create maybe more chances to win that match.

I think, again, I will reflect much more better after I take some time to think about it.