Promising Czech talent Jiri Lehecka will look to revitalize his flagging campaign after three successive defeats.
2025 ATP Tour
Masters 1000
Miami Open
Miami Gardens, Miami, Florida (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Round of 64 Matches- 21st March
Jiri Lehecka (26) vs Gael Monfils
The aggressive baseliner enjoyed a breakout 2024 campaign, winning his maiden title in Adelaide before a sensational semifinal run in Madrid. Injury interrupted his progress, forcing him to withdraw from his Madrid semi and miss a vital chunk of the season (though he did come back to finish runner-up in Antwerp towards the end of the year). He started this season like a man on a mission, winning in Brisbane before reaching the 4th round of the Aussie Open. He withdrew in Rotterdam but then picked up the biggest scalp of his career, outlasting Alcaraz en route to a Qatar semifinal berth. But he arrives in a bit of funk, losing consecutive openers n Dubai and Indian Wells (he actually hasn’t won since that herculean performance against Alcaraz). Lehecka is a powerful server and tactically intelligent player. He sometimes struggles in high-pressure moments, only converting 2 of 12 break-point opportunities in his Indian Wells defeat to Norrie.
Evergreen Frenchman Gael Monfils created some history in his Miami Opener, becoming the 2nd oldest winner in tournament history with a three-set victory over Fabian Marozsan (Jimmy Conners remains the oldest winner at 39). Monfils played some scintillating tennis against Marozsan, firing 15 aces and hitting 38 winners to 19 unforced errors. Monfils has already created some history this season, winning in Auckland to become the oldest ATP Tour title winner since Ken Rosewall in 1977 (he was 43). He then matched a Roger Federer record, becoming the only other man to reach the Aussie Open 4th round over the age of 38 (since the event was expanded to 128 players in 1988). He looked quite solid at Indian Wells, beating Struff and Korda before bowing out in three highly competitive sets with Dimitrov. This has actually been one of his weaker Masters 1000 events: he has reached just one quarterfinal here in his career. He is playing a more direct style in his latter years and that could benefit him on these surfaces.
The Verdict: Monfils to win in straight sets at – Lehecka leads the head-to-head 1-0, easily dismissing the Frenchman at the 2023 Banja Luka event. I think that Monfils- given current form-has a good chance of upsetting Lehecka. He has streamlined his game, looking to pick up quick cheap points with his serve and forehand. If Monfils could go back in time, I wonder if he will have adopted this strategy a bit sooner.
