What’s the secret to beating Carlos Alcaraz? Jiri Lehecka has a few ideas at the US Open

NEW YORK—As Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz expand their respective dominions in men’s tennis, the ability to beat either (if not both) is coming increasingly essential should someone else seek to win a Grand Slam trophy.

Jiri Lehecka scored his first victory over Alcaraz earlier this year at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open; does the Czech know the secret to stunning the Spaniard at the US Open?

“No,” he joked at the end of his post-match press conference on Sunday. “I mean, of course, against a player like Carlos you need to bring your best, and it means that it's not only about playing one particular shot, because he knows how to react. That's his big weapon. You know, that he knows how to react when someone is playing well, when someone is playing this or that.

“So, you need to bring your best. You need to be well-focused through the whole match. That's something what I will try to do, to play my game.”

That information comes in handy sooner rather than later for Lehecka, who will take on Alcaraz in his second Grand Slam quarterfinal—and his first since the 2023 Australian Open.

Lehecka had just turned 21 when he made his major breakthrough, toppling two seeds in Cameron Norrie and Félix Auger-Aliassime to storm into the last eight of only his fifth Grand Slam main draw. Though he made a steady rise up the rankings in the subsequent two seasons, consistent success at the top of the game proved elusive and he stalled just outside the Top 20.

“I think that I needed to grow up a little bit as a person,” Lehecka revealed after a four-set victory over Adrian Mannarino. “I'm more mature now, I think, and I think that's also part of the game. You know, to realize that tennis isn't everything, that there are also other things in life, and the way I see it is I think that we are kind of privileged that we have the chance to compete, you know, to do what we like, what we love, and to bring that in front of all the guys. But at the same time when I'm on the court, I'm not getting myself under more pressure than is necessary.”

Ironically, it took an injury lay-off to pull him out of his rut in time for another deep run at a major.

I was coming for a treatment to the hospital, and I saw little kids who were very, very sick, and they were enjoying life, and I was, like, feeling like that it's the end of the world for me, and I can't play only because my back hurts. That was the moment when I really, like, something switched. Jiri Lehecka

“Back then I remember that I was coming for a treatment to the hospital, and I saw little kids who were very, very sick, and they were enjoying life, and I was, like, feeling like that it's the end of the world for me, and I can't play only because my back hurts.

“That was the moment when I really, like, something switched. Since that moment I kind of feel that, of course, I love to win. I like to play the game. It's something I wake up every morning with the goal to improve, and I think all the players here at the biggest stage, they have the same.”

He arrived to Flushing Meadows determined to reverse a 2-3 record at the US Open, the only major tournament where he has a losing record, and revamped his game to better suit the ever-quickening court sat the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

“In the last few years, I didn’t really feel myself in New York,” Lehecka told me after reaching the fourth round on Friday. “I didn’t really feel the surface was right for me. Hard courts are good, but at the same time I didn’t really like the bounces or how rough the surface is. It wasn’t fitting my game that much, so that’s why we were focusing this year in our preparation to adjust a few things, to work a little bit more on my forehand and how I approach the ball.

“I must say that the only performance where I wasn’t really feeling good was the first round against Borna, which, of course was a tough match because he’s a very experienced player. It was also a first-round match, so you never know what tot expect. Since that moment, I added a couple more practices and with every match I’m feeling better and better, so I’m very happy with the progress.”

That progress is a continuation of momentum that first began earlier this summer in Queen’s Club, where he reached his first ATP 500 final and played Alcaraz for a second time this season, this time pushing him to three sets.

“I must say that I'm very happy that I had a chance to play against him this year already twice…Of course, I know that he's playing very good tennis. He's moving very well. He can serve big. He knows everything. His game is complete, I would say.

“So, for me I will just try to stick to the weapons that I have, to the weapons which worked for me in these last two matchups. We will see, of course. We have never played each other on a Grand Slam stage. So that's something new for me and for him as well, because we played each other only on, let's say, smaller tournaments. I think that the match will be great, and I can't wait for it.”

Should he pull off the upset against Alcaraz, a former champion who is yet to lost a set in New York, Lehecka might be wise to keep any new secrets he learns to himself.