2025 Australian Open R16 - [24] Jiri Lehecka (CZE) v/s [7] Novak Djokovic (SRB)

[Move]

Way to go Lahyani, much better than Damien Dumusois. Thats the way to make some people shush

 

[Honza]

The unforced errors on Leheckas side are shocking. Thought he is going to play much better

 

[Hitman]

No!!!!!

How old is he again?

 

[Move]

Djokooooooo .... like a panther !

 

[Move]

Lehecka has his serve now working at full speed !

 

[Hitman]

Djokovic now under pressure to serve to stay in the set.

 

[TheSlicer]

Come on jiri, take a ser at least, make the wolf work

 

[roysid]

Hope?

He has no choice. LOL

His side of the draw plays the day session.

Well this only started a few years ago. Only from 2022 as I recall. So the precedence is for 3 years only.
And precedence doesn't matter much. Like 2024 USO they put Fritz tiafoe in the night.
Tiafoe didn't win, and Fritz was super exhausted to put even a fight in the final

 

[Hitman]

Well this only started a few years ago. Only from 2022 as I recall. So the precedence is for 3 years only.
And precedence doesn't matter much. Like 2024 USO they put Fritz tiafoe in the night.
Tiafoe didn't win, and Fritz was super exhausted to put even a fight in the final

Last year the big semi final match, and the most important match of the tournament was Sinner v Djokovic, and they put the match on during the day,,,,

 

[Move]

okay here we go

 

[uscwang]

Novak should be able to take this if it goes to a tiebreaker

 

[Hitman]

Jiri has been very solid behind his serve this set. Strong hold, and forces Novak to take it into a tie break.

 

[TheSlicer]

Novak should be able to take this if it goes to a tiebreaker

Totally

 

[roysid]

Last year the big semi final match, and the most important match of the tournament was Sinner v Djokovic, and they put the match on during the day,,,,

Well Djokovic surely didn't get his wish last year

 

[Honza]

41 unforced errors by Lehecka so far. Terribad.

 

[Hitman]

Nothing to separate them in the third set, both played at a similar level. Tie break.

 

[TheSlicer]

He Will try some of those down the line at the tie break and Will end Up 2-7 or 3-7

 

[Hitman]

Well Djokovic surely didn't get his wish last year

He won't get it this year either if he even makes it to the semi.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Lehecka better win this tiebreak! These AO hours are brutal, I’ve only been up long enough to see most of the third set and I want more!

 

[junior74]

Even birds are heckling Novak…

 

[Gary Duane]

Possible. I consider Federer a better server than Djokovic overall though

The question is not who is a better server or was a better server. It is about how much the Djokovic serve has improved. And the answer is a huge amount. His serve is what is keeping him relevant in today's game.

He doesn't put the same amount of effort into breaking serve as he used to. All older players go in this direction. It is strategic. They figure that one break will do the trick in any set. You get an idea of how good defensive skills still are in tiebreakers.

 

[Hitman]

GOAT point!!!!

 

[Move]

What.a.point

 

[TheSlicer]

Ohhhh man

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

OMFG!

 

[Move]

Top Tie Breaker

 

[RokasLTU]

Lehecka better win this tiebreak! These AO hours are brutal, I’ve only been up long enough to see most of the third set and I want more!

It’s 12:50 here

 

[Hitman]

The question is not who is a better server or was a better server. It is about how much the Djokovic serve has improved. And the answer is a huge amount. His serve is what is keeping him relevant in today's game.

He doesn't put the same amount of effort into breaking serve as he used to. All older players go in this direction. It is strategic. They figure that one break observe will do the trick in any set. You get an idea of how good defensive skills still are in tiebreakers.

Yes, all valid points. He had no choice but to improve his serve, he has had to change his game to stay competitive.

 

[Matheson]

Djokovic is the greatest of all time.

 

[chjtennis]

That has to be the killer punch.

 

[RF-18]

Wooooow

 

[Move]

Gutsy Second Serve by Novak

 

[Move]

Go for broke Jiri

 

[TheSlicer]

This is far from not over

 

[RF-18]

2 more points nole come on. Lets finish this

 

[Hitman]

Jiri is playing his heart out in this third set. Novak has really been forced to play some of his best tennis.

 

[chjtennis]

Pressure on Lehecka to hold 2 serves.

 

[Hitman]

What a volley!!!

MP

 

[chjtennis]

Good job under pressure. Now, Novak can finish this match with his own serves.

 

[Move]

MAESTRO point.... MP coming up

 

[Hitman]

Djokovic wins....

 

[junior74]

Nice point to bring up MP!

 

[Jonas78]

Nole to the semis... Chains here we come!

Edit: sorry, Carlo first ofc

 

[Bubcay]

Well done Novak...

 

[RF-18]

That was perfect tennis to get match points. Controlled aggression, working the angles then finishing at the net. Masterrful

 

[MichaelNadal]

Time to clean it up Carlos

 

[Gary Duane]

Yes, all valid points. He had no choice but to improve his serve, he has had to change his game to stay competitive.

Also, in 2023 he won almost 80% of his tiebreakers.

 

[uscwang]

That's it. Big QF coming up.

 

[Move]

If he keeps playing like this and keeps upping his level he can make it to the AO finals

 

[Hitman]

Also, in 2023 he won almost 80% of his tiebreakers.

That is how you fight to stay on top and remain competitive.