Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Friday January 17, 2025 at 11:53 a.m.
Benjamin Bonzi lost in three sets in the third round of the Australian Open against world No. 29 Jiri Lehecka, who will have the formidable honor of challenging Novak Djokovic, defeater of his compatriot Tomas Machac, in the round of 16.
Benjamin Bonzi's first round of 16 in a Grand Slam will wait! As at the Australian Open and the 2023 US Open, the 28-year-old Frenchman stopped in the third round this Friday in Melbourne. Opposed to world number 29 Jiri Lehecka (1-1 in the confrontations, all on earth), the No. 64 was logically eliminated in three sets: 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 in 1h48. The Czech was particularly uncompromising on his serve, with 9 aces on the clock and no breaks conceded. In the first game of the match, Bonzi lost his faceoff, then again at 3-1, and he then missed the first of his two break points in the match. Lehecka was therefore able to conclude the round without trembling at 5-2. In the second, the Czech took the Frenchman's service at 1-1, then the Gardois missed his second break opportunity, which was a 2-2 ball. The games then passed on both sides, and the 29th in the world finished the set at 5-3, on his first opportunity. The third set saw Lehecka break at 3-2 and not give his opponent the slightest chance to come back. He finally concluded at 5-3 on his second match point and will play his third round of 16 in a Grand Slam, at 23 years old. For Bonzi, this Australian tour will have been more than positive, with a round of 16 in Brisbane after qualifying, a quarter in Adelaide and therefore a third round in Melbourne, to find himself in 62nd place in the world. Not bad for someone who was 182nd in April.
Djokovic convincing
In the round of 16, Jiri Lehecka will challenge the man with 10 victories in Melbourne, Novak Djokovic. The Serbian was opposed to another Czech, Tomac Machac, 25th in the world, and he was convincing to beat him with a score of 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in 2h21. While he had left a set going during his first two rounds, the world No. 7 was very solid this time, conceding only one break. He played in the first set, breaking at 2-1 and 4-1 against a disappointing Machac. But the Czech woke up to lead 2-0 in the second set, before Djokovic gave him back by winning four games in a row. He then concluded at 5-4 on his first set point. In the third set, the man with 24 Grand Slam tournaments broke from the start and then only lost four points on his serve, leaving his opponent not the slightest chance. On the contrary, it was Machac who had to defend break points, at 1-3 and 2-4, before losing. For Djokovic, it will therefore be a round of 16 match against Jiri Lehecka, whom he beat in three sets during the 2024 United Cup. This will give him a 432nd Grand Slam match, which will allow him to take his record even further. high.
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