Jiri Lehecka Stuns Carreno Busta at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Sets Sights on First ATP 500 Title

Dubai – Czech rising star Jiri Lehecka heads into today’s second-round clash with former World No. 10 Pablo Carreño Busta at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships riding a wave of momentum that could propel him to another career milestone. The 24-year-old has climbed to a live ranking of No. 23 after rallying past Luca Nardi 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in his opener, and a victory over the Spaniard would nudge him up to No. 22, edging him closer to his career-best No. 16 mark achieved last season. First serve is scheduled for 11:10 a.m. UTC (3:10 p.m. local time) on Centre Court, where Lehecka’s booming forehand and improved second-serve points-won percentage on hard courts (52 % of his ranking total has come on the surface this cycle) will be put to the test against Carreño Busta’s trademark consistency. Although the pair have never met on the ATP Tour, both arrive in confident form: Lehecka is 5-3 in 2026, highlighted by a Doha quarter-final, while Carreño Busta posted back-to-back straight-sets wins over Botic van de Zandschulp and Denis Shapovalov in Dubai qualifying before upsetting Luca Nardi in the main draw. Key storylines to watch • Live Ranking Surge – Lehecka began the week at No. 24 but could finish it inside the top 20 with a deep run, strengthening his bid to be Czech No. 1 ahead of compatriot Jakub Mensik. • Hard-Court Upside – 935 of his 1 800 ranking points have been earned on outdoor hard courts, underlining why Dubai’s pace suits his aggressive baseline game. • Next-Gen Statement – With 11 top-30 victories since the start of 2025, Lehecka is rapidly shedding the “prospect” label and eyeing a maiden ATP 500 semifinal this week. How to follow Live score streams are available on the ATP Tour’s official platforms, while regional broadcasters carry the televised feed. Fans searching for “Jiri Lehecka live score”, “Lehecka vs Carreno Busta Dubai” and “Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2026” will find real-time updates, stats and post-match analysis throughout the day. Bottom line If Lehecka continues to unleash his heavy forehand and maintains his recent uptick in clutch break-point conversions, the Czech could notch another signature win and keep his top-20 charge alive in the desert heat of Dubai.