Jiri Lehecka's Miami Open run wasn't the end of his quality play, it seems. While he lost in the final to Jannik Sinner, he learned enough about himself to continue to play at a high level. He did so to begin his run at the Monte Carlo Masters by defeating Emilio Nava in the first round.
To be fair to Nava, a 24-year-old American who hasn't won a title in his career yet, he played well for most of the match. He had to, as Lehecka kept pushing him on service games, and Nava kept holding on until the third round, when things fell apart.
But this says more about the Czech than the American. Lehecka could have wilted after taking the first-set tie-break 7-1, but then losing the second-set tie-break 8-10. There was nothing easy about the match, and Lehecka's recent success on the hard court of the Miami Open didn't mean instant success on the clay of Monte Carlo.
Jiri Lehecka back to his winning ways in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters
That he adapted and played better as the match grew old, even against the presumably underwhelming Nava, speaks volumes about where the Czech sees himself currently. He has the power of serve and forehand to be great on harder surfaces, but doesn't have great movement. Something that will test him on clay.
Yet, he appeared to improve in that department, too, at least in the first round. Strength isn't normally his problem, but speed can be. What he showed in Monte Carlo is that he is learning that touch is just as important as brute power.
Is he ready to compete with Carlos Alcaraz and other great clay-court players? Maybe not, but the fact that he is making inroads will gain him more confidence. He cannot be discounted at any tournament currently, and his ranking of No. 13, his career-best, could easily grow to a top-10 spot, and one where he stays for a while.
His best showing in Monte Carlo previously was a third-round appearance in 2023. In his current form, he could exceed that in 2026.
Next for Jiri Lehecka is clay-court specialist Alejandro Tabilo. Should the Czech get past the Chilean, he would next face the winner of the Gael Monfils and Alexander Bublik match in round three.