Adrian Mannarino is one of us. He isn't overly powerful. He is old. He's never reached the highest levels of success at his job, and this is why we root for him. He shouldn't even have made it as far as he did in the 2025 US Open, but it's great that he did.
23-year-old Jiri Lehecka is trying to prove he belongs in the same conversation as the other greats of his generation, however. He isn't Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner, but it would be fantastic if they had a third to compete with. Maybe Lehecka could be that. If so, the Czech player needs to change some things.
For one, unlike the third set against the 37-year-old Mannarino, he can't take sets off. Lehecka seemingly let the Frenchmen win. Maybe Lehecka was simply resting, but he can't do that. When he was on his game, he was well above the level Mannarino could reach, but he didn't always look that way.
Jiri Lehecka defeats Adrian Mannarino to move into the quarterfinals at the US Open
Lehecka took the first two sets 7-6 6-4, but Mannarino took the third set 6-2, and he actually had won more points than the Czech to that point. He had no reason for doing so. The Frenchman doesn't hit the ball with pace like Lehecka, doesn/t move as well, but simply has a higher IQ.
Mannarino also jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth set, but then things changed dramatically. Adrian Mannarino seemed to suffer some kind of thigh issue, and Jiri Lehecka raised his level. The Czech player took the final six games to win set four 6-2.
Lehecka is now into the quarterfinals for the first time at the US Open, and matching his best result at any major. He also reached the quarters at the Australian Open in 2023. He will also move into the top 15 of the ATP tour, no matter what happens the rest of the tournament. That will be a career high.
Lehecka will likely next play Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz will be the heavy favorite, but Lehecka is already achieving career-firsts, so anything is possible in his next match.