Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Shanghai Masters third-round match between Jiri Lehecka and Holger Rune, including predictions, head-to-head and their tournament so far.

Jiri Lehecka and Holger Rune face off for the second time on the ATP Tour in Tuesday's Shanghai Masters third-round match.

The Czechia player got the better of Jaume Munar on Saturday, while Rune did not play his tournament opener against Matteo Berrettini until Monday due to the inclement weather.

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Match preview

Lehecka battled to a hard-fought tournament-opening success over Munar despite the Spanish player winning every point on his first serve.

Break points were few and far between, with the Czech player edging that 2-1 in the tight second-round match before securing a 7-6(6), 6-4 success.

Returning to the court after several days' rest, the 22-year-old battles his 21-year-old Danish opponent, keen to advance after notching his first win in Shanghai to move on from last year's early exit.

Now up to 10-4 at Masters events in 2024, the world No. 34 aims to record an 11th success against Rune.

The young Dane finally got on the court after a surfeit of rain delays before his tournament opener against Berrettini meant the players did not battle until Monday.

Both players served up a treat, with Rune finding solutions to the Italian firing 16 aces in the match-up, and the 21-year-old required a turnaround after losing the opening set to clinch a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 triumph.

That success was the 12th seed's 13th Masters 1000 victory this season, and he seeks a 14th to advance to the fourth round in Shanghai.

Having made it to the last 16 in Canada and semi-finals in Cincinnati, the four-time Tour-level champion aims to continue his recent strong form at ATP 1000 tournaments following early exits on the clay courts in Madrid and Rome in the first half of 2024.

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Tournament so far

Jiri Lehecka:

First round: Bye
Second round: vs. Jaume Munar 7-6[6] 6-4

Holger Rune:

First round: Bye
Second round: vs. Matteo Berrettini 4-6 6-4 6-3

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Head To Head

Munich (2022) - Round of 32: Rune 7-6(4) 6-3

Although Rune emerged victorious in his only ATP Tour meeting with Lehecka, both players have not faced off since that 2022 encounter in Munich.

Since their last encounter two years ago was on clay, the Dane and Czech stars will face different challenges on the hard courts of Shanghai.

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We say: Lehecka to win in three sets

Very little separates Rune and Lehecka in Masters 1000 events in 2024, with the former flourishing at the last two events on hard courts while the 33rd seed had a commendable run in Cincy, defeating Daniil Medvedev in two sets before falling to eventual runner-up Frances Tiafoe in three tight sets in the last 16.

Although the Dane is the higher-ranked player, we are backing Lehecka to seal success in three in a close encounter.

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