Top seed at a tour-level event for the first time, Jiri Lehecka coped with the pressure on Thursday when he defeated former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem 6-3, 7-5 at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag. Stan Wawrinka, the 2006 champion, also advanced later in the day.
The Czech Lehecka won 82 per cent (31/38) of his first-serve points in his maiden meeting against Thiem, and rallied from a break down in the second set to advance after one hour and 41 minutes.
The 21-year-old, who is making his debut in Umag, will next play seventh seed Matteo Arnaldi in the quarter-finals. Lehecka and Arnaldi both competed at the 2022 Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan, where the Czech defeated the Italian en route to the final.
Lehecka has used that result as a springboard this season, highlighted by his run to the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and fourth round at Wimbledon. The World No. 33’s best result on clay prior to this week was a third-round appearance at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte-Carlo.
Lehecka is seeking his maiden tour-level title this week at the ATP 250 clay-court event. The 2015 Umag champion Thiem was aiming to reach his third tour-level quarter-final of the season. The Austrian leaves Croatia 9-17 on the season.
Wawrinka, who won his first ATP Tour title in Umag 17 years ago, surged past Argentine Federico Coria 7-5, 6-1 to earn his spot in the last eight. The former World No. 3 will next face Roberto Carballes Baena, who eliminated Taro Daniel 6-3, 6-1.
Wawrinka earned five service breaks against Coria, notably winning 56 per cent of his first-serve return points. The Swiss is competing in Umag for the first time since 2007.
Jaume Munar also advanced, defeating Fabian Marozsan 6-4, 6-3. The Spaniard will next meet second seed Lorenzo Sonego after the Italian overcame Marco Cecchinato 6-1, 7-6(7).
Sonego saved one set point in the second-set tie-break before triumphing after one hour and 37 minutes. The 28-year-old's best result on clay this season came at Roland Garros, where he advanced to the fourth round.
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