World no. 25 Jiri Lehecka notched his career-best victory on the ATP 500 occasion in Doha. The Czech confronted world no.3 Carlos Alcaraz within the quarter-final and earned a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory in two hours and 9 minutes.
The highest seed managed the scoreboard, taking the second set and constructing a 4-2 benefit within the decider. Jiri refused to surrender, rattling off the ultimate 4 video games and rising on the high. Lehecka will face Jack Draper within the semi-final.
LEHECKA TAKES OUT ALCARAZ! 🤩
Jiri Lehecka defeats World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 3-6 6-4 to succeed in the semi-finals in Doha#QatarExxonMobilOpen pic.twitter.com/R1dvymf9Q0
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 20, 2025
The Spaniard claimed 4 factors greater than the Czech. Each gamers struggled behind the second serve and battled towards 15 break probabilities. Jiri saved 4 of seven and transformed 4 of eight alternatives, together with back-to-back breaks within the closing phases of the duel.
By official stats, Carlos landed 32 winners and 25 unforced errors, whereas his rival embraced 18 direct factors and 36 errors. If that is true, Jiri needed to drive quite a few errors from his opponent to erase that deficit. The Czech hit seven service winners extra whereas struggling from the baseline.
Carlos Alcaraz, Doha 2025© Stream screenshot
Lehecka hit a double fault within the third recreation of the match and skilled a break. Alcaraz defended three break factors within the fourth recreation and missed a recreation level that would have despatched him 3-1 in entrance. As a substitute, world no. 25 pulled the break again and locked the consequence at 2-2.
The Czech made one other push on the return within the sixth recreation and brought about the Spaniard’s forehand error with a deep return for a break and a 4-2 benefit. Jiri confronted a break level in recreation seven after a wayward forehand and saved it with a strong serve.
Jiri Lehecka, Doha 2025© Stream screenshot
World no. 25 closed the sport with an unreturned serve and remained in entrance. Lehecka served for the opener at 5-3. He squandered two set factors and netted a backhand to supply Alcaraz a break probability. The Spaniard squandered it with a poor return.
The lower-ranked participant drew the rival’s mistake on the fourth break level, transferring 6-3 up after 45 minutes. Carlos raised his degree within the second set and supplied 5 comfy holds. He held at love within the first recreation with a forehand winner and moved 2-1 up with a maintain at 15.
Carlos Alcaraz, Doha 2025© Stream screenshot
World no. 3 stepped in on the return within the fourth recreation. He landed a lob winner for 2 break factors and transformed the primary after the rival’s wayward forehand. The Spaniard cemented the benefit with a service winner at 3-1 and gained confidence.
The four-time Main winner held at 15 within the seventh recreation for 5-2 and served for the set at 5-3. He landed a strong serve after a deuce, wrapping up the set and forcing a decider after an hour and 20 minutes. The highest seed served properly early within the closing set and had an opportunity to seal the deal.
Jiri denied a break level in recreation three with a service winner and confronted extra points at 2-2. He netted a forehand after the serve and fell behind. Carlos held at 15 in recreation six and moved nearer to the end line.
Jiri Lehecka, Doha 2025© Stream screenshot
Lehecka positioned a forehand lengthy within the seventh recreation and confronted one other break level. The Czech saved it with a service winner and launched his comeback after holding for 3-4. World no 3 hit a double fault within the eighth recreation and confronted two break factors.
The highest seed performed a unfastened forehand on the primary, shedding serve and returning his rival to the optimistic aspect. World no. 25 landed a strong serve within the ninth recreation, transferring 5-4 up and maintaining the strain on the opposite aspect.
Alcaraz served to remain within the match in recreation ten and confronted a match level after netting a backhand proper after the serve. Jiri attacked on the return and brought about the rival’s mistake, incomes a career-best win and transferring into the semi-final.
