US OPEN

August 31, 2025

Jiri Lehecka

Press Conference

J. LEHECKA/A. Mannarino

7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Jiri, congratulations. Hard-fought match. Your thoughts?

JIRI LEHECKA: Yeah, of course, it's been a super tough match, because we all know that Adrian is a super experienced guy, and it's never easy to play these matches against guys who exactly knows what to play and when.

You know, it wasn't easy, but I must say that all of the sets were -- if I don't count the first set, it was a good fight. Happy to win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. On the win, when you made your first Grand Slam quarterfinal, you just turned 21. It's been a couple of years since then. To be back on this stage in the quarterfinals, how do you feel like you've grown as a player and a person the last two, three years?

JIRI LEHECKA: Yeah, I think that, of course, I made some progress. We've been working a lot, because that first quarterfinal I did in Australia, I think it was 2023 I think, it's been one of -- it was my second year, you know, at the top level. It was after that tournament I jumped into top 50.

So I think that back then it's been more like about, you know, I was the underdog, and all the players, they didn't know me well. They didn't know what to expect. So for them it was very tough to kind of prepare for my game.

Since that moment, I think that we've been trying to work a lot. We've been trying to improve a lot of things, and to be back in the quarterfinal, it's great. It feels good.

I think that there has been many, many things that I've done in the last two years that I'm happy about, meaning, like, the effort I put on the practice court. Even when I was not playing well, coming back each day. That's something I think is very important.

I think that also I needed to grow up a little bit as a person. I'm more mature now, I think, and I think that's also part of the game. You know, to realize that tennis isn't anything -- everything. That there are also other things in life.

And the way I see it is I think that we are kind of privileged that we have the chance to compete, you know, to do what we like, what we love, and to bring that in front of all the guys.

I must say that this point of view changed for me last year when I was injured, you know. Back then I remember that I was coming for a treatment to the hospital, and I saw little kids who were very, very sick, and they were enjoying life, and I was, like, feeling like that it's the end of the world for me, and I can't play only because my back hurts.

That was the moment when I really, like, something switched. Since that moment I kind of feel that, of course, I love to win. I like to play the game. It's something I wake up every morning with the goal to improve, and I think all the players here at the biggest stage, they have the same.

But at the same time when I'm on the court, I'm not getting myself under more pressure than is necessary. That's something I would say, yeah, that's changed.

Q. If I could ask you to look ahead to a couple of days from now and playing Carlos, what sticks out in your mind the most from your matchups with him, and how do you think it will make a difference to be playing him three of five instead of two out of three?

JIRI LEHECKA: Yeah, I think that this year we played twice I think with Carlos. It's been tough battle both times.

Of course, he's one of the two biggest challenges right now in tennis, I would say. He is a great player who he made such big progress in the last few years. You know, he won this tournament already, so definitely he knows how to play here.

But I must say that I'm very happy that I had a chance to play against him this year already twice. I must say both times it's been a battle, you know. There were two good matches we played against each other, one in Doha earlier this year and in the final of Queen's tournament.

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.

Q. You're one of the few people to have beaten him this year anywhere. So what's the secret to defeating Carlos Alcaraz? Can you share?

JIRI LEHECKA: No (laughing). I mean, of course, against a player like Carlos you need to bring your best, and it means that it's not only about playing one particular shot, because he knows how to react. That's his big weapon. You know, that he knows how to react when someone is playing well, when someone is playing this or that.

So you need to bring your best. You need to be well-focused through the whole match. That's something what I will try to do, to play my game. Yeah, we will see how it goes.