Jiri Lehecka itching to face Novak Djokovic in the greatest challenge in tennis

Czech Republic United Cup player Jiri Lehecka is thrilled to get the chance to test himself against Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic continued an impressive winning streak in Australia when he opened his campaign in the tie against China.

Lehecka, who faces the Serbian at the United Cup on Tuesday, believes there is no greater challenge in tennis right now than to play against Djokovic in Australia.

“It will be our first meeting. I can’t wait for it,” Lehecka told ATPTour.com. “There’s no bigger challenge than playing Novak right now in Australia. With his amazing win streak. It’s just one of the biggest challenges you can have. I really can’t wait for it. I’m really looking forward to it and I hope it will be a great match.

“It’s just something that you don’t have every day, playing on a great court at a very nice venue and most probably there will be a lot of people watching us. You can’t have a better start to the season and preparation for upcoming matches as this, so it’s a good way how to prepare myself and it’s good to see the reality of top tennis and see what I’m doing right, what I’m doing wrong.”

Lehecka doesn’t believe that he has any special insight into how to defeat Djokovic.

“I mean that’s something almost everyone would love to know,” Lehecka said when asked what the secret to beating Djokovic is at a press conference.

“But from my point of view, I am just trying to play my game because I know that when I play really well and I felt it also when I practised with him many times, that when I play confidently, when I try to go for the ball and go to the net, that’s something which can work on him.

“I will still have some meetings with my coach about that match and we will just try to be very confident in the match. Trying to go for every ball as I can not give him many neutral shots where he can create something.”

The young Czech is thrilled to start his season by representing his country.

“For me, it is a nice way to start at the United Cup,” Lehecka said. “It’s always very good and very pleasant to share the stage with other teams and with my mates here, which is always very nice. And we enjoyed that a lot. It’s not as stressful as going right into other tournaments as you have two matches guaranteed. If you play well you go and play more.

“I enjoy the responsibility. We all came here with the mindset that we just want to have fun, we just want to play well and we just want to prepare as much as we can for the Australian Open.”

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