Preview: US Open: Jiri Lehecka vs. Carlos Alcaraz - prediction, head-to-head, tournament so far

Jiri Lehecka can book a place in a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time in his career by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in US Open action on Tuesday.

On Sunday, the 20th-seeded Czech took care of Adrian Mannarino 7-6 6-4 2-6 6-2, while Alcaraz beat another Frenchman, Arthur Rinderknech, 7-6 6-4 6-3.

Match preview

For only the second time in his career, Jiri Lehecka has made the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, claiming six break points in the last 16 against Mannarino.

His serve was a weapon and at times his own worst enemy on Sunday as the Czech hit 18 aces for the match but also committed 10 double faults.

Tuesday will be his first time beyond the last 16 of a singles tournament since the London Queen’s Club tournament in June, when he made it all the way to the final only to lose in three sets to Alcaraz.

The previous time he was in the last eight of a major singles event, Lehecka failed to make an impact against Stefanos Tsitsipas, losing that match in straight sets.

In 2025, he has hit over 200 aces on the hard court and been able to win 89% of his service games despite boasting a first serve percentage of only 60%.

He has been pretty sharp at the return game on that surface, converting 42% of his break points for the year, though he has only won 18% of his return games in 2025.

After a difficult opening set, which saw him forced into a tiebreaker, Alcaraz took control of Sunday's match in the second and third sets, failing to concede a single break point.

As a result, he is through to the quarter-finals of a fourth successive Grand Slam, and has a chance to make a major semi-final for a third time in a row.

The youngest player to ever capture the US Open crown on the men’s side (19) in 2022 won 85% of his first serves in the last 16 and captured two of his five break-point opportunities.

The Spaniard has not suffered a quarter-final defeat on tour since his upcoming opponent beat him in three sets at the ATP Qatar Open in February.

In 2025, he has done a nice job of rescuing break points, saving 62% of them on the hard court so far this year, while winning 86% of his service games.

On the opposite side, Alcaraz has won 43% of his return points, while winning 56% of his return points on his opponent's second serve.

Tournament so far

Jiri Lehecka:

First round: vs. Borna Coris 3-6 6-4 7-6 6-1

Second round: vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry 3-6 6-0 6-2 6-4

Third round: vs. Raphael Collingnon 6-4 6-4 6-4

Round of 16: vs. Adrian Mannarino 7-6 6-4 2-6 6-2

Carlos Alcaraz:

First round: vs. Reilly Opeka 6-4 7-5 6-4

Second round: vs. Mattia Bellucci 6-1 6-0 6-3

Third round: vs. Luciano Darderi 6-2 6-4 6-0

Round of 16: vs. Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 6-3 6-4

Head To Head

Queens Club London (2025) - final: Alcaraz wins 7-5 6-7 6-2

Qatar Open (2025) - quarter-finals: Lehecka wins 6-3 3-6 6-4

Queens Club London (2025) - final: Alcaraz wins 6-3 6-3

When these two last met in June, the Spaniard won 87% of his first serves and converted three of his five break points, with his opponent failing to get one.

Back in February, though, it was a different story as Lehecka won four of his eight break-point opportunities to advance from that match.

The first time the two met in 2023, first serves proved decisive with the Spaniard winning 83% of his and his counterpart only at 50% for the match.

We say: Alcaraz to win in four sets

If Lehecka can be on in the service game, there is a chance he can give Alcaraz a challenge, but the Czech is far too prone to errors when compared to the five-time Grand Slam champion.