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Match Details
Fixture: (5) Jiri Lehecka vs Roberto Bautista Agut
Date: 20 October 2024
Tournament: European Open 2024
Round: Final
Venue: Lotto Arena, Antwerp, Belgium
Category: ATP 250
Surface: Hardcourt (Outdoor)
Prize Money: €690,135
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN
Jiri Lehecka vs Roberto Bautista Agut preview
Fifth seed Jiri Lehecka will face Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut in the 2024 European Open final, setting up a classic showdown between youth and experience.
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Lehecka kicked off his Antwerp campaign in style, seeing off Jaume Munar 6-1, 6-4 in the first round. He followed that up with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Daniel Altmaier before upsetting second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
Lehecka took on Marcos Giron in the semifinals. An early break in favor of the Czech youngster proved enough as he went on to claim the first set. After Giron leveled the match with a late break in the second set, courtesy of a blistering forehand passing shot, Lehecka regained control in the third, breaking twice to seal a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
Bautista Agut, meanwhile, began his tournament with a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Luca Van Assche. He continued his strong form, defeating sixth seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(2), 6-4 in the second round.
In the quarterfinals, Bautista Agut staged an incredible comeback to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(6). He secured his spot in the summit clash with a dominant 6-3, 6-4 win over Hugo Gaston in the semifinals, marking his first ATP final appearance since Adelaide last year.
Jiri Lehecka vs Roberto Bautista Agut head-to-head
Roberto Bautista Agut leads Jiri Lehecka 3-1 in their head-to-head matchups. However, Lehecka reigned supreme in their previous encounter in Beijing a couple of weeks ago. Bautista Agut won their other encounter this year at the Davis Cup.
Jiri Lehecka vs Roberto Bautista Agut odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Jiri Lehecka vs Roberto Bautista Agut prediction
Jiri Lehecka has been in excellent form all week in Antwerp, aside from a minor hiccup in his last match. He’s been dominant on serve and a powerful presence from the baseline, courtesy of his strong groundstrokes. He's also excelled at the net and has not shied away from taking the risky option.
Roberto Bautista Agut has also impressed with his performance this week and looks to be still going strong at 36. He has been solid from the baseline, especially on the backhand wing. He's also been aggressive when needed, finding success at the net while racking up a healthy count of winners.
Lehecka enters the final with a 28-15 record this year, compared to Bautista Agut’s 23-19. He’s also been more successful on hard courts, boasting a 24-14 record, while Bautista Agut stands at 12-11 on the surface.
Lehecka has already claimed one title this year, in Adelaide, while Bautista Agut’s best result so far has been reaching the quarterfinals.
While the stats favor the Czech, the experienced Spaniard remains a dangerous contender given his vast experience on the big stage. With his proven ability to win titles, Bautista Agut could very well pull off another upset.
Pick: Lehecka to win in three sets.
