Jiri Lehecka gained his very first ATP Masters 1000 win on Wednesday at the BNP Paribas Open up with a battling functionality in opposition to Arthur Rinderknech. The 21-calendar year-old Czech scored a 7-6(4), 7-5 victory in his 2nd look at the prestigious degree, having capable for Monte Carlo previous year.
Sixth seed Andrey Rublev awaits in the 2nd round for what will be the pair’s 3rd ATP Head2Head matchup. Both equally of their previous conferences went a few sets, with Rublev successful previous April in Belgrade and Lehecka returning the favour previous thirty day period in Doha.
Towards Rinderknech, Lehecka twice arrived again from a break down in the opening set before saving two set factors on provide at 5-6. He hardly ever trailed in the tie-crack and raced out to a 3- guide in established two, nevertheless his French opponent levelled the 2nd at 4-4. Lehecka’s fourth split of the match, on his seventh crack place, sealed the win.
The World No. 47 Lehecka has backed up his runner-up end to the Up coming Gen ATP Finals final November with a sturdy start to 2023, highlighted by a breakout operate to the Australian Open quarter-finals. He also achieved the semi-finals in Doha, dropping a three-established thriller to Andy Murray immediately after defeating Rublev a single round before.
If he can get past Rublev all over again in Indian Wells, Lehecka would fulfill 25th seed Denis Shapovalov or Frenchman Ugo Humbert in the third spherical.

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China’s Wu Yibing also sophisticated on Day 1 of main-draw perform in Indian Wells, with the 23-12 months-outdated claiming a 6-7(6), 6-, 7-6(3) gain versus Spain’s Jaume Munar. His reward is one more Spanish opponent: 23rd seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Wu was competing at an ATP Masters 1000 for the initial time considering that Shanghai 2018, in which he picked up a gain as a wild card. He faced just two break points in the match, with Munar converting 1 in the opening set and the 2nd in the ultimate set.
Just after employing a backhand drop shot on match position, Wu sealed the offer in remarkable vogue with a diving volley.
The victory extends his tour-level get streak to 7 matches right after he claimed his maiden ATP Tour title in Dallas previous month, beating Taylor Fritz and John Isner in the final two rounds. Every single of his earlier a few wins have occur in a few sets.
Wu, who currently holds the honour of getting China’s maximum-rated man in heritage, moved a further four locations to No. 63 in the Pepperstone ATP Reside Rankings with modern gain.
