Czech Lehecka opens grass campaign with win in Stuttgart

Rising Czech force Jiri Lehecka began his Wimbledon build-up in impressive fashion with a 6-4 6-4 defeat of Benjamin Bonzi in the opening round of the Stuttgart Open on Monday.

The eighth seed, whose last match on grass was in the Wimbledon fourth round in 2023, quickly got up to speed to overpower Bonzi, firing down 13 aces.

Lehecka, 23, will face 2023 Stuttgart runner-up Jan-Lennard Struff next after he thumped down 30 aces during a 6-4 6-4 victory over Italys Matteo Arnaldi, his first win against a top-50 opponent this season.

American sixth seed Brandon Nakashima came through a battle against Britains Jacob Fearnley, winning 4-6 7-6(4) 6-1.

Top seed at the ATP 250 event is Alexander Zverev.

Action also began at the Libema Open in Den Bosch with two-time runner-up Jordan Thompson beginning another run with a 6-4 6-4 defeat of American Aleksandar Kovacevic. REUTERS

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