Australian Open: Norrie vs Lehecka Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Australian Open as Cameron Norrie takes on Jiri Lehecka in the third round on Friday, January 20, 2023.

Jiri Lehecka is enjoying his best run at Grand Slam level by virtue of reaching the third round of the 2023 Australian Open. But could it come to a screeching halt when he plays British No. 1, Cameron Norrie?

Cameron Norrie has encountered some speedbumps in his passage to the third round of the 2023 Australian Open. His first-round win over Luca Van Assche was routine (he did face stern resistance in the first set before winning in straight sets). However, he looked in deep trouble in his second-round match against Constant Lestienne, the tenacious French late-bloomer who led Norrie 5-2 in the third set but didn’t have the guile to close out the set. Norrie eventually prevailed winning, 6-3 3-6 7-6 6-3 to set up a third-round meeting against Jiri Lehecka.

Jiri Lehecka, for his part, won back-to-back matches at Grand Slam level for the first time with a four-set win over Christopher Eubanks. Having scored an upset win over Borna Coric in the first round, Lehecka tamed the big serve of Eubanks, breaking the American five times from 10 opportunities. He will be looking to avenge his Auckland loss to Cameron Norrie when he squares off against the Briton on Friday.

Cameron Norrie leads Jiri Lehecka 2-0 in the head-to-head. Norrie defeated Lehecka at the ASB Classic in Auckland just a few days before the Australian Open in a three-setter. Norrie has a toolbox of shots to dig himself out of trouble if things don’t appear to look rosy, just as he did against the likes of Van Assche and Lestienne. But there is an aura of self-assurance and confidence in the way Lehecka is playing in Melbourne and is definitely Norrie’s toughest assignment at the tournament thus far. We like the young Czech’s chances of springing another upset.