Jiri Lehecka has acknowledged the need to raise his level after falling short in the final of the Miami Open.
The 24-year-old was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by Jannik Sinner, who completed a historic “Sunshine Double” without dropping a set, becoming the first player to achieve the feat since the tournament’s inception in 1985.
Despite the defeat, Lehecka enjoyed a breakthrough run in Miami, reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 final. His journey was particularly notable as he became the first player since Novak Djokovic in 2018 to reach a Masters 1000 final without having his serve broken.
Reflecting on the loss, Lehecka admitted that competing against the world’s top players had highlighted areas for growth.
“These matches show me that there is still big, big, big room for improvement,” he said. “I played a very good tournament, and I’m satisfied with my game, but I can see there is still another level I need to reach.”
The Czech star added that continued development will be crucial if he is to challenge for titles at the highest level, particularly in major tournaments and Masters events.
