Irji Lehechka from the Czech Republic is one of the promising young talents on the ATP tour. His main strength lies in his powerful serve, which often secures easy points for him. Recently, Lehechka has also significantly improved his return game, which has led to more stability on the court. His strong sides include consistency and confidence, especially in defense and receiving. He rarely makes mistakes in crucial moments, but like any player, he has weaknesses. He can sometimes struggle in long rallies where he lacks tactical variety and, at times, confidence in key moments.
In the past six months, Lehechka has demonstrated impressive form, reaching several semifinals in major tournaments and winning smaller competitions. He’s clearly in top shape and a tough contender in any match.
Alexey Popirin from Australia is also known for his strong serve, one of his most formidable assets. He is capable of putting up a good fight against top players, especially when he controls the game with his serve and baseline strokes. However, Popirin’s weaknesses have been more evident recently. His game has been less consistent, with early exits from tournaments, and his return game is not as strong as Lehechka’s, making him vulnerable against opponents with a solid serve and return.
Popirin has struggled, with few notable victories and early exits from tournaments. His powerful serve alone hasn’t been enough to carry him through to the later stages.
In this upcoming match, Lehechka is the clear favorite. His consistency, improved return game, and confidence with the serve make him a stronger player right now. Popirin, despite his strong serve, won’t be able to compete on the same level, as he has shown vulnerability in recent matches. Lehechka is expected to win in straight sets, with minimal mistakes and without facing much drama during key moments.
Handicap 1 (-2.5) at odds of 1.90 seems like a solid choice, as Irji Lehechka has been in excellent form, especially with his return game. He’s expected to win comfortably with a few game differences.
P1 at 1.55 is also a strong option since Lehechka is the favorite given his current form.
Total 22.5 is quite neutral, but the under 22.5 (odds 1.90) seems more likely, as the match is expected to be over in straight sets with minimal difficulty for Lehechka.
