Jiri Lehecka vs João Sousa Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Kitzbuhel Open

Prediction published on 26/07/2022, 06:23  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 26/07/2022 at 08:07 in Tennis Predictions

Joao Sousa is the eighth seed in the Austrian Open but struggling for form. He faces Jiri Lehecka in the second round with the winner up against either third seeded Roberto Bautista Agut (the highest seed after the top two withdrew) or wild card Jurij Rodionov. Sousa is the world number 61 but had lost seven matches in a row before this tournament. Last week saw him in Gstaad where he lost his first match against Alexander Ritschard who was the world number 190 at the time. It's all been a bit downhill for the Portuguese player since losing to Casper Ruud in the clay court tournament held in Geneva in May. He finally got back into winning ways with a victory over qualifier Vit Kopriva who is ranked outside the top 100.

Jiri Lehecka is seven places below his opponent in the rankings. The Czech has shown better form than Sousa in recent weeks. He got to the last 16 in Gstaad last week, losing in straight sets to Casper Ruud. Before that he reached the last eight of a Challenger Tour clay court event held in Romania but lost to a player ranked outside the top 200. May also saw Lehecka in a final, being beaten in the title decider of the Mauthausen Challenger Tour tournament. His best performance this year was on a hard court in Rotterdam, making it to the semi-finals and losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas in three sets, having previously beaten Denis Shapovalov. This is definitely a match for low stakes to be placed on. We tentatively go for Lehecka to get the win.