Stefanos Tsitsipas defeated Jiří Lehečka, the 18th seed, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-1 on Friday in the third round of the US Open to reach the Round of 16 at the final Grand Slam for the first time in his career. At 28, the Greek has finally broken through the barrier that had eluded him throughout his time at Flushing Meadows.
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A first set to forget
Lehečka controlled the tempo from the start, leaving Tsitsipas with no answers. Down 2-6, the match appeared to be heading in a familiar direction for the former world No. 3, whose 2025 season was derailed by back injuries. But Tsitsipas found a second wind from the second set onward, completely flipping the momentum. The Greek produced aggressive tennis backed by 34 total winners, compared to just 22 for his opponent. Lehečka committed 41 unforced errors, eleven more than Tsitsipas.
The tiebreak turning point
The third set crystallized the shift. In the tiebreak, Tsitsipas delivered consecutive aces while Lehečka crumbled on a double fault. At 7-3, the Greek had seized a decisive advantage. The fourth set was a formality, as the Czech had no reserves left to mount a comeback.
A revival driven by a coaching change
This New York run is no accident. In June, Tsitsipas permanently parted ways with his father Apostolos as coach, ending a partnership that had spanned his entire career. He now works with Thomas Perrin and Patrick Mouratoglou. "This season might not have been the best I've had, but at least I wake up every single day happy that I don't have any pain," Tsitsipas said after his victory.
After eliminating Arthur Fils, the 10th seed and recent Cincinnati champion, in the first round, Tsitsipas has produced a second major scalp. It has been over two years since the former two-time Grand Slam finalist reached this stage at a Major. "You carried me through this match," Tsitsipas told the Greek-American crowd that packed the stands at Flushing Meadows.
