Lehecka Punches Return Ticket To Brussels Semifinals With 40th Win Of Season

Jiri Lehecka
Jiri Lehecka (photo: Belga/Jasper Jacobs)

BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON, October 18, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)

Jiri Lehecka became the sixth man on the ATP Tour to record 40 wins this season on Friday, joining Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Alex de Minaur, Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner. That’s pretty good company to keep. 

As the 2025 season winds down for Lehecka in the coming weeks, the World No. 17 has been nothing if not consistent – and the Czech No. 1 has been a history maker, too.

Inside Brussels Expo, Lehecka became the first Czech man to earn 40 wins a single season since Tomas Berdych garnered 57 victories 10 years ago during the 2015 season. For awhile, though, Lehecka looked ripe for an upset after he lost the first set of his quarterfinal match at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open to 53rd-ranked Benjamin Bonzi of France during a close tiebreaker in which he let slip three match points. 

However, the 23-year-old from Mlada Boleslav, Czechia righted himself quickly. He put away 10 of the next 12 games and secured the match after Bonzi retired down 1-4 in the final set, suffering from an apparent injury to his left groin, following an hour and 54 minutes of play. It was the third time this season Lehecka had beaten Bonzi, after earlier victories at the Australian Open on an outdoor hardcourt and in Stuttgart on grass.

Lehecka, last year’s European Open finalist when the tournament was held in Antwerp, was safely through to another semifinal round in Belgium, after prevailing 6-7 (8), 6-1, 4-1.

Looking back, Bonzi turned around a 6-4 deficit during the first-set tie-break, saving three set points and winning six of the final eight points to pull out the set. Then, Lehecka rebounded quickly to win five straight games as Bonzi began to weaken, due to a left groin niggle, which required a medical time out. When play resumed, the Czech No. 1 closed out the second set with a pair of aces. 

In the decider, Lehecka grabbed an early break lead in the opening game and, soon, increased his advantage to 3-1. However, Bonzi was forced to retire after losing the fifth game, a double-break down at 4-1. The pain in his left groin from the wear and tear was simply too much for him to bear. By the finish, Lehecka had struck 33 winners – including 12 aces – and won 88 percent (43 of 49) of his first-serve points. He faced no break points on his serve while breaking Bonzi’s serve four times in eight opportunities. Lehecka outpointed Bonzi 90-65. 

“The difference [in the match] is just that I started to play better,” said Lehecka, who advanced to his 11th career tour-level semifinal and third of this season after Doha and Queen’s Club. “In the first set, there were a lot of close moments where I didn’t make the right decisions. I had my chances and I didn’t use them, but if you don’t make [the right decisions] you don’t deserve to win.

“I’m happy with my reaction right after [losing the first set] because I came into the match immediately,” Lehecka added. “I knew I needed to raise up my level and that’s exactly what happened. He helped with a couple of mistakes and I started to feel more confident and that’s what I needed.”

Now, after a run to last year’s final, where he lost the European Open title to Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, Lehecka improved to 6-1 in Belgium, a country in Western Europe that is known for its medieval towns and Renaissance architecture, and is also the headquarters of the European Union and NATO. 

“It’s always nice to be here in Belgium,” said Lehecka, who during Monday’s Media Day saw the Atomium – a famous landmark of the Brussels skyline – and participated in a cake-baking contest along with Joao Fonseca and Zizou Bergs. “I only have the best memories from last year. I’m very happy to be back here.”

On Saturday, Lehecka will oppose the 37th-ranked fifth seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France, who eliminated World No. 8 and top seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, 6-4, 7-6 (8), in an hour and 23 minutes. The 6-foot-7-inch, 22-year-old Frenchman put away the victory on his third match-point opportunity during a second-set tiebreaker, after saving two earlier set points to improve to 19-22 this season. It was his first career triumph over the Italian No. 2 in five tries.

Mpetshi Perricard accumulated 32 winners – including 12 aces – and won 88 percent (43 of 49) of his first-serve points. He faced no break points on his serve while breaking Musetti once, in the very first game of the quarterfinal match. Mpteshi Perricard won 20 of 36 net-exchange points and outpointed Musetti 71-60 overall.

“I’m very proud [of my effort],” Mpetshi Perricard said after earning his second career victory over a Top-10 opponent and improving to 4-0 against Top-20 players on indoor hard courts. “My record against [Lorenzo] wasn’t very good, So, when I stepped on the court, I knew I had to try something else. It worked. It was a tight win. I was two match points up, then saving a set point. I’m very proud of myself.”

Auger-Aliassime reaches ninth semifinal of season

World No. 13 and second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada improved to 9-2 in tour-level quarterfinals this season following his entertaining 6-2, 7-6 (6) victory over 111th-ranked American qualifier Eliot Spizzirri in one hour and 39 minutes Friday evening. Auger-Aliassime wrapped up the quarterfinal triumph on his second match-point opportunity with his 11th ace that was set up after he won a spirited 20-shot rally.

With his 39th win of the season secured, Auger-Aliassime became the second man to reach nine semifinals in 2025, following Carlos Alcaraz, who has attained 11 last four appearances. The Canadian No. 1, who leads the ATP Tour in indoor wins this decade (74), improved to 30-11 on hard courts this season and is the fourth man to record 30 wins on the surface in 2025.

“This sport can turn fast,” Auger-Aliassime said during his on-court interview, after letting a 4-2 lead slip away in the second set before rallying to win it in a tie-break. “Every opponent in the draw is difficult. So, you wake up every day hoping it’s going to be your day. You prepare your best regardless of who you play. Today, I started the match almost perfectly. For the first set and a half, you couldn’t ask for better. Then, I made one or two mistakes – but I have to give him so much credit. He raised his level and played really well. It was really a battle until the end. It was stressful for us, entertaining for you guys, I hope. It was good tennis overall.”

By the end, Auger-Aliassime outpointed Spizziri 75-63. He finished with 34 winners to 23 unforced errors, won 82 percent (40 of 49) of his first-serve points and  broken just once. He converted three of seven break-point opportunities against Spizzirri. The former University of Texas standout, who was appearing in his first tour-level quarterfinal and facing his first Top-20 opponent after winning a couple of ATP Challenger Tour titles earlier this year, countered with 18 winners and 20 unforced errors. 

On Saturday, evening Auger-Aliassime will face 90th-ranked Belgian wild card Raphael Collignon, who pulled off the upset of the week by defeating World No. 20 and fourth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, 7-6 (5), 6-1, in one hour and 47 minutes Friday evening. In doing so, he electrified the enthusiastic crowd that filled the Palais 12 Centre Court with his hustle and all-court play. 

Upon securing match point, Collignon raised his arms in celebration, took off his white cap, and beamed a smile that could be seen and felt throughout the entire arena. He soaked in the applause that was directed toward him as he walked to the net to shake hands with Davidovich Fokina.

Appearing in his first ATP Tour quarterfinal, the 23-year-old Collignon became just the third Belgian semifinalist in the event’s 10-year history after David Goffin (2016) and Ruben Bemelmans (2017). He’s now 3-0 in his young career against Top-20 players after defeating No. 12 Casper Ruud in the second round of this year’s US Open and No. 8 Alex de Minaur in Davis Cup play last month. 

After breaking into the Top 100 in February and achieving a career-high ranking of No. 81 in April, Collignon has climbed to No. 73 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings with his victories this week over fellow Belgian No. 39 Zizou Bergs, No. 68 Francisco Comesana of Argentina and Davidovich Fokina. Against the Spaniard, the American-born resident of Liege struck 35 winners – including 12 aces – to 24 unforced errors, won 81 percent (44 of 54) of his first-serve points, saved all three break points he faced and broke his opponent’s serve twice in six tries. He outpointed Davidovich Fokina 80-68.

“It feels good [to win]. It was a crazy atmosphere,” Collignon said, with a hint of laughter in his voice, during his on-court interview. “I knew I was playing the last match. Thanks for cheering for me.

“Your support gives me so much energy,” Collignon added, ”to fight for every ball, to try to fight for every point. I can’t wait for tomorrow.”

Around the Brussels Expo

No. 2 seeds Christian Harrison and Evan King of the United States defeated No. 4 seeds Rafael Matos and Marcelo Melo of Brazil, 7-6 (5), 2-6, 10-4 in one hour and 34 minutes Friday afternoon on Centre Court. Now into their fourth final this season, the American duo combined to hit eight aces and won 73 percent (38 of 52) of their first-serve points. They were outpointed 72-68.

Harrison and King have won two titles this season – at Dallas and Acapulco – and were finalists in another at Delray Beach in compiling a 38-22 win-loss record this season. Matos and Melo have enjoyed success this season, going 24-19 while winning a pair of titles at Rio de Janeiro and Winston-Salem and reaching the finals at Buenos Aires.

In the other doubles semifinal, No. 1 seeds Hugo Nys of Monaco and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France advanced by walkover against French duo Benjamin Bonzi and Pierre-Hugues Herbert as a result of an injury Bonzi sustained during his singles quarterfinal on Friday afternoon. 

Nys and Roger-Vasselin have compiled a 37-18 win-loss record this season and recently won the title at Tokyo. They were also finalists in Washington, D.C.

Friday’s European Open results

Saturday’s European Open order of play

By the numbers

Belgium’s Raphael Collignon, playing in his first ATP Tour quarterfinal, became just the third Belgian player to reach the singles semifinals in the 10-year history of the ATP 250 indoor hardcourt event with his win over No. 4 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The others: David Goffin (2016) and Ruben Bemelmans (2017). 

“Quotable …”

 – “Thank you guys for coming out to support [me]. It’s so late! Thank you very much for staying. I really have enjoyed the hospitality in Brussels. My college teammates Pierre [Bailly] and Gilles [Bailly] are up-and-coming stars in Belgium, as some of you know, and are some of my best friends. You see Pierre in my box helping me out this week. I’m having a blast and enjoying my time here. … Hopefully, there are more wins and good experiences and moments I’ll cherish the rest of my life. I get to travel the world and do what I love. I can’t complain.”

– Qualifier Eliot Spizzirri of the United States, ranked 111th, who played collegiately at the University of Texas and was a two-time ITA National Player of the Year in 2023-24, speaking to the crowd in his on-court interview Thursday evening after defeating Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands to advance to the quarterfinal round.

 

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