There’s always a reason or a motivation behind the making of every tennis pro. Czechia, the nation that gave one of the finest WTA legends in tennis history (Martina Navratilova; Czech-American), has created a sense of motivation for young tennis enthusiasts to step forward. While Navratilova may be the reason why many youngsters picked tennis rackets, the case is completely different for the rapidly rising ATP star Jiri Lehecka. His true levels of dominance originate from a family that has athleticism running in their veins.

The whole tennis world accepted a new name in the line of competition as Jiri Lehecka secured his first-ever singles title at the Adelaide International. But what exactly is the real story behind his immense passion for tennis? Lehecka’s journey to becoming a professional tennis player began with a simple desire to be like his family members, who were all heavily involved in the world of sports. Lehecka was surrounded by athletes from a young age as his father, Jiri was a professional swimmer, and his mother, Romana also had roots in track and field. Besides the guardians, his older sister Veronika also took up the sport under the guidance of their grandmother, who was a former national-level competitor.

When the ATP star was just three years old, he watched his grandmother teaching Veronika how to play tennis. He was not only delighted to see them having fun but was also inspired by the excitement of the game. “I wanted to do the same. At the moment, tennis was the only option for me. I was doing a lot of other sports, I had a very sporty childhood, I would say, but tennis won and of course nothing to regret,” he told the ATP Tour.

Lehecka’s journey in the racket sport started as a hobby. He had never considered becoming a professional player until he moved to Prostejov at the age of 15 to indulge in serious training sessions. It was the same moment that his love for the game grew into a desire to play as a professional ATP star. “I started to feel more like I would love to do that professionally, and I really liked how all these players looked when they are playing on the big stages,” Lehecka said.

His parents played a significant role in supporting his talent and determination. Lehecka has always credited his father for helping him believe that the best way to achieve success is through hard work. His mother’s understanding of sports with a professional eye also backed his vision. “I think it was pretty good because they know how the sports life looks like,” Lehecka mentioned, elaborating on the support he received from his parents. However, it wasn’t just his family who backed him on this tough journey of becoming a pro.

Jiri Lehecha explains how his friends backed him during the days of striving

When Jiri Lehecka moved to Prostejov to attend a sports school, he was nervous because he left his parents and familiar surroundings behind. Although living in a new place without his family was hard, Lehecka was lucky enough to find great friends who helped him adjust and be focused. These friends played a crucial role in his life during those early days. “It wasn’t easy for sure,” Lehecka said. “but luckily for me, I had great friends over there that I still keep in touch with. They helped me go through those difficult times when it was my first time without my family or anybody I knew.”

It was during his time in Prostejov that Lehecka also met his coach Michal Navratil, who was very impressed by the player’s kindness and mannerisms, apart from his talent on the court. “He was a very nice guy, always said hello to everyone,” Navratil recalls. “Then of course when I saw him on the court he was very powerful. The strength from the beginning was in him.”

Navratil recognized Lehecka’s potential during the early stage of his career and therefore worked closely with him to show him the path to professional tennis. As the ATP star continues his hunt for more titles, not only his career but also his family legacy continues to grow.