The 2025 Rotterdam Open is well underway, as the top players in men’s tennis excite fans with some excellent action in the Netherlands.
The very best of the ATP Tour are competing in Rotterdam this week, as they look to pick up the first ATP 500 title of the season.
Carlos Alcaraz beat Botic van de Zandschulp in a US Open rematch, in his opener, as the Spaniard searches for his first career title on indoor hard courts.
Second seed Daniil Medvedev lost to Mattia Bellucci in the second round, as his early season struggles continue.
Alex de Minaur made his way into the quarter-finals with wins over David Goffin, and Czech star Jakub Mensik, as he looks to return to the final in Rotterdam, where he narrowly came up short in 2024.
De Minaur’s second-round opponent wasn’t the only top Czech player competing at the Rotterdam Open, however, as Mensik’s compatriot suffered a similarly tough second-round exit.
World number 24, Jiri Lehecka retired from his second-round match with Hubert Hurkacz, as he suffered an injury to his hamstring.
Taking to social media after the match, Lehecka gave his fans a potentially worrying fitness update.
“Sad that I could not finish my match yesterday, but health must always come first,” he said.
“Need to undergo a few scans to see what’s going on with my left hamstring and will do everything I can to be fully prepared for Doha.
“Anyways, it’s always a pleasure to play here in Rotterdam and I can’t wait to see you next year.”
The Qatar Open in Doha is set to begin on February 17, just 11 days from now.
Lehecka has enjoyed a strong start to 2025, winning an ATP title at the Brisbane International, before reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open.
The 23-year-old was tipped for big things in 2025 by many, with Andy Roddick suggesting that he could make a top-ten debut later this year.
Speaking on his Served with Andy Roddick podcast last December, the former world number one was full of praise for the young Czech star.
“Jiri Lehecka, watch him for next year,” he said.
“It would surprise me zero if he ended up in the top ten and he doesn’t get mentioned in the top ten enough.
“He was on a great run in Madrid this [last] year.
“He can play huge, has a great serve, has a strong body.
“Got hurt in Madrid, detoured his season a lot but can beat really good players, and has enough weapons.”
Lehecka retired against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals of the 2024 Madrid Open, his best performance at a Masters 1000 tournament to date.
Having done so in Madrid last year Lehecka is no stranger to suffering an injury when in fine form.
However, he’ll be hoping that his hamstring issues don’t derail his season, as he looks to continue chasing down the top ten.
Roddick spoke highly of Lehecka just a few months ago, claiming he has top-ten potential, but is he on course to break into the world’s elite later this year?
Rank | Name | Age | Points |
1 | Jannik Sinner | 23 | 2,000 |
2 | Alexander Zverev | 27 | 1,355 |
3 | Novak Djokovic | 37 | 850 |
4 | Ben Shelton | 22 | 850 |
5 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | 24 | 605 |
6 | Alex de Minaur | 25 | 555 |
7 | Tommy Paul | 27 | 550 |
8 | Jiri Lehecka | 23 | 500 |
9 | Gael Monfils | 38 | 475 |
10 | Carlos Alcaraz | 21 | 450 |
The 23-year-old currently sits at 8th in the ‘Race to Turin’, having accumulated a strong haul of points during the early stages of the 2025 season.
However, having lost in the second round in Rotterdam, Lehecka may well fall a few places in the coming days, as his rivals continue to pick up wins in the Netherlands and Dallas.
He’ll hope to be back fit for Doha in 11 days, the event where he suffered one of his most heart-breaking defeats back in 2023.
Former world number one Andy Murray stood between Lehecka and a first ATP final two years ago.
Rolling back the years, Murray remarkably saved five match points in a Qatar Open thriller to deny the young Czech star, 6-0, 3-6, 7-6.
He was unable to return to the event in 2024 but will certainly be looking to make his mark in the Middle East this time around, should his hamstring recover in time.
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