The men's draw at Roland Garros continues to lose seeds at an alarming rate. After Taylor Fritz's shock exit on Sunday, 12th seed Jiří Lehečka became the latest casualty on Monday.
Pablo Carreño Busta, the 34-year-old former world No. 10, delivered a masterclass on clay to dispatch the Czech 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-3 in just under two and a half hours. It was the Spaniard's first win over a top-20 player in two years.
From the opening set, Carreño Busta imposed his rhythm from the baseline with relentless consistency. Lehečka, despite his powerful forehand, never managed to wrestle control of the rallies. The second set went to a tiebreak where the Spaniard's experience proved decisive, closing it out 7-3 without wavering.
In the third set, Lehečka appeared to fade physically. Carreño Busta broke early and never relinquished his advantage, wrapping up the match with a commanding final service game.
For Lehečka, it marks a second consecutive first-round exit at Roland Garros. The 24-year-old, who had impressed during the hard-court swing earlier this season, simply could not find his footing on the Parisian clay.
Carreño Busta, who announced that 2026 would be his final season on tour, showed he remains a formidable force on his preferred surface. The former US Open semifinalist will face the winner of the Kokkinakis-Fucsovics match in the second round.
