Zachary Svajda 🇺🇸 vs. Jiri Lehecka 🇨🇿

🎾 ATP Washington 2025 – Round of 32 Preview

Zachary Svajda 🇺🇸 vs. Jiri Lehecka 🇨🇿

📍 Washington, D.C. | 🗓️ July 24 | 🎾 Hard (Outdoor)

🧠 Form & Context

Zachary Svajda
🔥 On a roll: The 21-year-old American enters on a 5-match win streak, winning the Newport Challenger and upsetting Kecmanovic from a set down in R1.
🎯 Clean ball-striker: Compact game and solid baseline timing—particularly effective on U.S. hard courts.
🇺🇸 Feels at home: Reached R2 in Washington last year and looks sharp again here with multiple comeback wins.
📈 Late bloomer energy: Wins over Cilic, Mannarino, and Watanuki (twice) have quietly built him a 24–17 season.

Jiri Lehecka
🏆 Breakout season: ATP title in Brisbane and Queen’s finalist—beat Draper, De Minaur, and tested Alcaraz.
🧱 Top-tier foundation: Elite athlete with a solid two-wing game and big-match experience.
🌀 Some questions: Bounced early at Wimbledon (to Bellucci) and playing his first career match in Washington.
⚖️ Stability matters: Can dominate from the baseline but sometimes loses focus and overpresses.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This shapes up as a potential thriller. Svajda enters with crowd momentum, rhythm, and three wins already under his belt in D.C. He excels at redirecting pace and staying composed in longer exchanges, giving him tools to frustrate Lehecka if the Czech isn’t dialed in early.

Lehecka has the edge in pure weaponry—his forehand and first serve can take over quickly—but he’s shown early-round lapses in recent months. Svajda’s court craft and willingness to grind could expose any rust or frustration.

The American will look to extend rallies, force Lehecka to hit extra balls, and leverage the crowd. The Czech must serve efficiently and keep control of the tempo. If this goes long, the upset door opens.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Lehecka in 3 sets — Svajda has the form and fight to keep it close, but Lehecka's power game should eventually wear him down. Expect a tight and tense battle.