Jiri Lehecka advanced to the round of 16 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Wednesday, defeating Luca Nardi 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, while Pablo Carreno Busta upset Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 6-4.
Lehecka, the eighth seed, overcame a slow start against lucky loser Nardi, rallying after dropping the first set. The Czech player’s victory sets up a second-round clash with Carreno Busta, a qualifier who produced a dominant performance against Shapovalov.
The match between Carreno Busta and Shapovalov saw the Spaniard rediscover a level of play reminiscent of his past form, according to reports. Carreno Busta’s win marks a significant result for the veteran, who entered the tournament as a qualifier.
This will be the first career meeting between Lehecka and Carreno Busta. Analysts favor Lehecka, citing his consistency and strong serve as key advantages. The match is scheduled for Wednesday at 4:30 pm on NEW COURT 1, according to Tennis Tonic.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships are being held at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The tournament is an ATP 500 event, offering significant ranking points. Coverage is available on Sky Sports Tennis in the UK and Tennis Channel in the USA.
The Sky Sports broadcast began at 11:25 am local time on Wednesday, with coverage scheduled to conclude at 12:15 pm. Live streaming is available through Sky Go and Tennis Channel’s online platforms.
