Is the former world number 4, Tomas Berdych, the person behind the rapid rise of Jiri Lehecka? The 22-year-old Czech tennis star is all set to step onto the court for the first time at an ATP Masters 1000 SF. Lehecka is already the number one Czech tennis player in singles and a win in the SF will take him up to the Top 20s for the very first time in his career. The journey wasn’t easy, but it was Berdych who stood beside him tough times.

Tomas Berdych has won a total of 13 titles in his illustrious career. His most notable achievement in his career was reaching the finals of the Wimbledon Championships in 2010. He took his retirement from tennis in 2019, and in the same year, Jiri Lehecka made his tour-level debut representing his nation at the Davis Cup. If only, creating your legacy and passing the baton had a better example than this! After his retirement, it didn’t take long for Berdych to notice the talent of Jiri Lehecka and he joined his coaching team before the 2023 Monte Carlos Masters.

But did the partnership get started? Tomas Berdych explained, “(With Jiri), it all came quite naturally. At the beginning of this year, we started to talk a little bit, and then he came up with an idea to add me to the team. Since Monaco, we spent a couple of weeks together.” For Lehecka, it has been an amazing experience to have that player in his team who had inspired him a lot during his childhood days.

The 22-year-old said, “I remember watching him during the final of the Davis Cup in 2012 when Czech beat Spain in Prague.” He further went on to add, “That was the first time where for me it was like, ‘Wow, this is one of the moments which I would love to feel myself’. It was funny because when I spoke with him, for him it is not that different. After all, 25 to 35 is not as big a difference as if you are 11 or 21. It was a funny moment and we had some fun talking about it.“ 

Jiri Lehecka also works with full-time coach Michal Navratil. And the team is quite delighted to get the chance to work with the Czech tennis legend. They believe Tomas Berdych brings a different perspective to the game and his vast experience will hugely benefit Jiri Lehecka. Lehecka beat Rafael Nadal by 7-5,6-4 in the R16 of the Madrid Open. Fans are now wondering whether Berdych’s magic has already started to work on the youngster.

“He is trying to give me some short-cuts” – Jiri Lehecka on Tomas Berdych’s role in his team

Berdych has defeated Nadal four times in his career. It also includes his QF triumph at the 2006 Madrid Open. Although Nadal has been a dominant force in most of their faceoffs, the 38-year-old surely knows a way of two to beat the best in the game. Jiri Lehecka believes, “He is a guy who has been on the top for such a long time. He has all the things that I need. His words are that he is trying to give me some shortcuts and I totally agree with him.” Both of them share a very strong bond off the court as well.

The youngster went on to add, “There are some things that every player must go through by himself. But if there is something different that is what he is helping me with, and I think it works well.” Share what are your thoughts on the rapid rise of Jiri Lehecka. Do you think Tomas Berdych is the man behind his stellar rise?

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