Andrey Rublev vs Jiri Lehecka Prediction, Picks, Odds, H2H, August 30th

Our second writeup from the U.S. Open on Friday comes from the Andrey Rublev vs Jiri Lehecka match. Two big ball strikers going toe-to-toe could provide some captivating forehand exchanges.

Lehecka’s win probability is only 26%, while Rublev is favored to win at 1.31 odds. The handicap is five games and the total games line is 37.

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Our Rublev vs Lehecka prediction is for Rublev to pull away as this match progresses.

Andrey Rublev vs Jiri Lehecka Prediction: Lehecka One to Oppose Off Long 2nd Round Match

• Prediction: Rublev -5 Games
• Best Odds: 1.85
• Bookmaker: Pinnacle
• Stakes: 2/10

Odds updated at 2:30 am UK Time on August 30th, 2024. 

It’s not fun giving up a head start this big on a hard court to a decent server, but I don’t trust Lehecka when he’s in form with how volatile and erratic his game is, much less of a return from injury where he’s had major lulls in terms of physicality.

Rublev has a lot of the same issues, but when it comes to the physicality, I don’t have the same questions at the moment.

The fact he had to come back from two sets down in the last match could cost him in this one. Rublev had to do the same, but his final three sets were far less competitive and he didn’t really look like he was wavering, despite the gruelling conditions.

Lehecka may just serve well for and not miss too many balls for several hours on Friday. However, the likelihood of that happening without a physical breakdown is far too low for me to pass this one up.

Andrey Rublev Recent Form

What a wild few months it’s been for the world No. 6. From losing as a 1.22 favorite at the French Open to a hard court specialist to being a 1.02 favorite at Wimbledon and losing to a clay court specialist, Rublev had some trying times this summer.

Luckily he found some form on the hard courts in time for the season’s final major tournament. He reached the final in Montreal, beating world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, only losing to the surprise package of the event in Alexei Popyrin (who plays Novak Djokovic in his third-round match in New York). Then it was an exit in the round of 16 at the Cincinnati Masters, but that was to Sinner and only from a setup, as he had the Italian on the brink of losing to him twice in as many weeks.

That makes his near exit against Arthur Rinderknech in the last round even more puzzling, but that’s tennis. Matchups and form on the day mean everything.

Rublev made it through that match because the Frenchman broke down in the incredibly hot and humid conditions – something that could happen to Lehecka if this one is physical from the start.

I’m going to trust him to put that near loss behind him and keep his strong form going on Friday.

Jiri Lehecka Recent Form

After not having played since Madrid back in early May due to injury, Lehecka has been surprisingly strong in his few hard court tournament appearances. He only made the final 16 in Cincinnati, but one of his wins came against Daniil Medvedev (though his other needed a tiebreak and string of games to come back against clay court specialist Mariano Navone).

So far in New York, he’s beaten Marton Fucsovics (in a fourth-set retirement after getting his clock cleaned in the opening frame) and then Mitchell Krueger from two sets down (he was a 1.22 favorite heading into that contest).

It hasn’t been the most inspiring run for Lehecka, and though Rublev had some serious issues with the serve and forehand combination of Rinderknech, he won’t be facing quite the same raw power this time out and Lehecka isn’t just vulnerable to making mistakes on the backhand wing.

Andrey Rublev vs Jiri Lehecka H2H – Stat of the Match

These two have been competitive in the past. The last two meetings came at Indian Wells, both this year and last. Last year, Rublev crushed the Czech, while this year, Lehecka exacted his revenge.

It’s 2-2 overall, but I’m keen to see how Lehecka looks off a potentially fatiguing match if this one requires a fourth (or even fifth) set.

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