Might subsequent week’s Subsequent Gen ATP Finals introduced by NEOM show a stepping stone to greatness for the eight-strong area in Jeddah?
Jiri Lehecka is in little doubt as to the influence of the 21-and-under occasion on his skilled tennis journey thus far. The Czech star, who’s at present No. 31 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, reached the ultimate on the 2022 version in Milan. His expertise there may be one that also shapes him, even one 12 months on.
“I at all times give it some thought, as a result of that has nonetheless been one of many nicest experiences for me as a participant,” the 22-year-old Lehecka informed ATPTour.com. “It was simply one thing superb and I used to be very blissful that it was that type of event the place they confirmed us what it actually means to be a high, high tennis participant.
“They actually threw us into all of the media consideration, into the large area, taking part in with a brand new format, attempting new guidelines. It was an awesome week, I performed excellent there and I loved it. After all, it had been an awesome motivation for me to be within the last eight.”
This 12 months, a brand new group of younger ATP Tour stars will vie for glory at a event that counts present High 10 gamers Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas amongst its former champions. Arthur Fils, Luca Van Assche, Dominic Stricker, Alex Michelsen, Flavio Cobolli, Hamad Medjedovic, Luca Nardi and Abdullah Shelbayh will every hope {that a} robust run on the occasion’s new house in Saudi Arabia might help propel them to even larger and higher issues.
Jiri Lehecka in motion on the 2022 Subsequent Gen ATP Finals in Milan. Picture Credit score: Peter Staples/ATP Tour.
That was definitely the case this season for Lehecka, who adopted his championship-match run in Milan in November 2022 by reaching his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final on the 2023 Australian Open. In August, he reached his career-high of No. 28 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings after reaching his first ATP Tour last in Winston-Salem.
“[The Next Gen ATP Finals] helped me rather a lot, as a result of [in 2022] after I was ending the season, I didn’t actually have good outcomes,” stated Lehecka. “I didn’t play nicely, I didn’t really feel good on courtroom, after which Milan got here. My consideration went a little bit bit away from the truth that we had been simply coming and taking part in [each week]. It helped me to get my thoughts free and helped me to focus extra on having fun with the truth that I used to be taking part in.
“I performed nicely there, and I ready nicely. It gave me a sense of what I’m able to and the way nicely I actually can play. That was a sense and a confidence that I took with myself into the Australian summer time, and it labored nicely.”
Since its inception in 2017, the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals has been famend for its pioneering scoring format, rule modifications, and technological improvements. This 12 months on the King Abdullah Sports activities Metropolis might be no completely different — no on-court warm-ups, shot-clock reductions and higher in-match analytics obtainable to coaches through the brand new Tennis IQ platform are among the many additions for the 2023.
It’s one other facet of the occasion that Lehecka notably loved in Milan, and one thing he believes fits youthful gamers who’ve solely comparatively lately made the step-up to competing week-in, week-out as a professional. The Czech feels that the occasion’s daring strategy may be instrumental in the way forward for the game.
“We’re younger and nonetheless prefer to discover new issues and take a look at one thing new,” stated Lehecka. “For us, it was essentially the most enjoyable. It wasn’t one thing that will get us down or bore us. It felt enjoyable to try this. I feel that it’s an occasion that confirmed us how issues could possibly be within the coming years.
“I feel it’s good to have this sort of occasion yearly, and I’m wanting ahead to this 12 months. I’ll look ahead to positive and we’ll see who comes out on high.”
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