DOHA/STARNBERG, February 20, 2025
Jiri Lehecka headlined Thursday’s quarterfinal action at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open by knocking out Spanish top seed Carlos Alcaraz. The 23-year-old Czech won 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Lehecka struck eight aces and won 73 per cent of his first-service points. The World No. 25 was also solid from the baseline and rallied from 2-4 down in the final set to advance to the last four in Doha for the second time after two hours and nine minutes.
LEHECKA TAKES OUT ALCARAZ!
Jiri Lehecka defeats World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 3-6 6-4 to reach the semi-finals in Doha#QatarExxonMobilOpen pic.twitter.com/R1dvymf9Q0
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 20, 2025
“I feel great,” Lehecka said. “The match was up and down since the beginning. So for me to win a match like that against a player like this is a super big achievement. I believed in myself and knew I had the level to produce this kind of tennis. I knew if I could be a bit more consistent in matches, I can bring these results more and more.
“I think the most important part was I believed in my game and did not back down. Even when I was missing shots in the third set, I wanted to play my game style, be an aggressive player and push him to his limits. I was just waiting for the right moment to put all these things together and it happened when I broke him back in the third set.”
Lehecka, who claimed his second tour-level title in Brisbane in January, will next oppose eighth-seeded Briton Jack Draper, who fought past Matteo Berrettini of Italy 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and 21 minutes.
Rublev defeats De Minaur
In the bottom half of the draw, Andrey Rublev knocked off No. 2 seed Alex de Minaur of Australia 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(8). The fifth favourite and 2020 Doha champion let a 5-2 lead slip in the final set as De Minaur’s signature defensive skills forced a tie-break. However, Rublev displayed remarkable resilience, saving a match point before securing his first victory over a Top 10 opponent since August last year after two hours and 39 minutes.
“When I had my first match point, I played really well,” said Rublev. “I did everything amazing and he just played an unreal rally. He made the backhand down the line and I played a good volley. Then he makes a forehand pass down the line. In most of the matches, normally after these points, they win – it’s a turning [point].
“I then started to get a bit more tight and more emotional, I was a bit unlucky. Then when I lost my serve, I said ‘Okay, whatever, if I’m gonna lose, at least just try to do your best until the end’.”
Rublev will next take on Felix Auger-Aliassime, who benefited from the retirement of No. 4 seed Daniil Medvedev. The Canadian was leading 6-3 when Medvedev was forced to stop playing due to illness.
