Jiri Lehecka routs Arthur Fils in Miami to reach first Masters 1000 final without dropping serve

For the second consecutive year, a Czech man will play for the Miami Open title.

Jiri Lehecka reached the biggest final of his career Friday at Hard Rock Stadium after putting together a comprehensive 6-2, 6-2 victory over Arthur Fils. In holding in every service game once again, the No. 21 seed became the first player to reach an ATP Masters 1000 title match without being broken since Novak Djokovic at the 2018 Shanghai Rolex Masters.

"Final feels!!!" he reacted when signing the on-court camera.

Fils, who saved four match points in his quarterfinal with Tommy Paul, also hadn’t dropped serve en route to his maiden 1000-level semifinal. Opting to serve first, the Frenchman immediately fell behind his dialed-in opponent. Lehecka produced a remarkable 9.6 return quality rating on his way to running away with a two-break advantage.

Lehecka carried his level over to the second set, continuing to press Fils with his deep strikes. The 24-year-old broke for 2-1 with a backhand return up the line that Fils had no answer for, resulting in the frustrated Frenchman tossing his racquet and venting at his team.

A hold from 15-30 saw Lehecka successfully consolidate, making it that much harder for Fils to work himself back into the encounter. Up 4-2, Lehecka broke for a fourth time in a 16-point game to put the match on his racquet—and closed the door on his first opportunity. He won 59 of the 100 under 9-shot rallies on the day.

For the trophy, Lehecka awaits the winner of world No. 2 Jannik Sinner and fourth-ranked Alexander Zverev.