MIAMI/WASHINGTON, March 28, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
If Jiri Lehecka has proven anything during the Miami Open presented by Itau fortnight in South Florida it’s this: he belongs in the ATP Top 20.
On Friday, the 24-year-old 21st seed from Czechia gave a steady but powerful performance in defeating No. 28 seed Arthur Fils of France, 6-2, 6-2, to advance to his seventh and biggest ATP Tour final of his career – his first at the ATP Masters 1000 plateau.
Making memories in the Magic City 🌟@jirilehecka reaches the biggest ATP Tour final of his career! @MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/HoZ5XxjyKD
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 27, 2026
During their 75-minute semifinal on the temporary-built stadium court inside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Lehecka faced no break points from the 31st-ranked Fils and outpointed him 63-44. He finished 16 winners made only 14 unforced errors and converted four of 10 break points.
Through his first five matches at the Miami Open, the World No. 22 Lehecka has not seen his serve broken. The two-time champion on the ATP Tour has marched to the title match with victories over French wild card Moise Kouame, American Ethan Quinn, No. 6 seed Taylor Fritz of the United States, Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce and Fils.
Game. Set. Jiri Masterclass. 👨🏫
Nothing could faze @jirilehecka today as he reaches his maiden Masters 1000 final, defeating Fils 6-2, 6-2!@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/bWs9SsjWlL
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 27, 2026
“It feels great. It’s definitely something I’ve been working towards the whole year and the whole pre-season,” said Lehecka, during his on-court interview with ATP Media after leveling his career head-to-head against Fils at 2-all. “I really trusted my game and the work I put in. It didn’t matter when, but I knew it would come and today was a nice example of how I want to play. I executed it well, so I’m very happy with today’s performance.”
Two years ago, Lehecka tearfully retired from his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in Madrid due to an injury. Now, he’s gone full circle.
No feeling like it. #MiamiOpen | @jirilehecka pic.twitter.com/OSG9ouUjgP
— Miami Open (@MiamiOpen) March 27, 2026
On Sunday, Lehecka (11-5 in 2026), who has jumped to World No. 14 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings – and will secure a new career-high ranking on Monday – will face World No. 2 and second seed Jannik Sinner of Italy, who eased past World No. 4 and fourth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany, 6-3, 7-6 (4), in one hour and 53 minutes for his 16th straight ATP Masters 1000 victory.
Sinner brought a 15-match winning streak at ATP Masters 1000 level (30-0 in sets) after winning titles in Paris last October and Indian Wells earlier this month into the semifinal. Now, he’s reached his 35th tour-level final (25-9), becoming the eighth man in series history to reach 10 ATP Masters 1000 finals on hard courts, after defeating Zverev for the eighth time in 12 career meetings – including seven straight and twice this month following his triumph over the German No. 1 at Indian Wells earlier this month.
Another final in the books 📚@janniksin is one win away from completing the Sunshine Double!@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/yXnnQk2qSP
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 28, 2026
The South Tyrolean fired 15 aces and produced 27 winners while making just 12 unforced errors. He won 79 percent (45 of 57) of his first-serve points and saved both break points he faced.
“Coming here trying to produce some good tennis, that was my main goal. Standing again in the final, it means very much to me,” Sinner said during his on-court interview with ATP Media. “It’s been an incredible swing. Trying to play as many matches as possible, that was by goal. Couldn’t do better. I’m very happy.”
Sinner added: “Today has been a tough encounter. He played some incredible tennis, so I was serving very well in the end, especially in the crucial moments. I am very happy and it means a lot to me.”
With his 18th victory in 20 outings this season, Sinner is the seventh man to advance to four Miami finals in tournament history. He’s one victory away from achieving the Sunshine Double after winning the title at Indian Wells earlier this month. If he’s successful, he would be the first to do it since Roger Federer accomplished the feat in 2017.
Meanwhile, Zverev will return to World No. 3, surpassing Novak Djokovic, in the PIF ATP Rankings on Monday.
WHO’S STOPPING SINNER?? 🤯@janniksin def. Zverev 6-3, 7-6(4) and his headed to the FINAL!!#MiamiOpen | @PIF_en pic.twitter.com/tvvc929yA5
— Miami Open (@MiamiOpen) March 28, 2026
Around Hard Rock Stadium
• In doubles, No. 4 seeds Harri Heliovaara of Finland and Henry Patten of Great Britain upset No. 1 seeds Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina, 6-2, 6-3, to advance to the finals against No. 7 seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy. The Italian duo advanced to the title match by defeating Sander Arends and John-Patrick Smith of Australia, 6-3, 6-4.
• On Saturday, Heliovaara and Patten will face Bolelli and Vavassori in the men’s doubles final at 12:30 p.m. It will be followed not before 3 p.m, by the women’s singles final between World No. 1 and top seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and World No. 4 and fourth seed Coco Gauff of the United States.
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By the numbers
Jiri Lehecka is the fourth Czech men’s finalist at the Miami Open, following Ivan Lendl (1986-87, 1989), Tomas Berdych (2010) and last year’s champion Jakub Mensik.
Take a bow, @jirilehecka 👏@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/e28cfaypDe
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 27, 2026
“Quotable …”
“Of course I’m very excited that I’m in a final. It was definitely one of my goals. At the same time, I know that it is just a sport. There are more important things going on in the world right now, so that’s definitely something I’m trying to remind myself. I’m just trying to do what I do best, and I definitely enjoy being on a court like this. So I’m trying to live in the present and we will see how it goes on Sunday.”
– Jiri Lehecka of Czechia, during his post-match interview, as quoted by the ATP Tour website.
