Lehecka stuns Alcaraz to reach Qatar Open semi-finals

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock exit from the Qatar Open quarter-finals on Thursday after a hard-fought defeat to world number 25 Jiri Lehecka.

The Spaniard, who entered the match on a seven-match winning streak after his Rotterdam triumph, fell 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to the in-form Czech player.

Alcaraz showed resilience by leveling the match after dropping the first set and even led by a break in the decider. However, Lehecka stormed back to win the final four games, sealing a remarkable victory.

The Czech star, who claimed his second career title in Brisbane earlier this year, showcased his growing confidence and composure under pressure.

Alcaraz’s exit was compounded by the departure of second seed Alex de Minaur, leaving the tournament wide open as Lehecka eyes a potential title run in Doha.

“I feel great,” said Lehecka. “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 think the most important part was I believed in my game and did not back down.”

The 23-year-old Czech will play British eighth seed Jack Draper or Italy’s Matteo Berrettini on Friday for a place in the final. Lehecka is through to the last four in Doha for the second time.

Berrettini, a former world number six and Wimbledon runner-up, knocked out Novak Djokovic in the second round.

Andrey Rublev converted his eighth match point against De Minaur to take his place in the semi-finals.

The Russian, a Qatar winner in 2020, had to dig deep to down the Australian 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (10/8).

Fifth-seeded Rublev let slip a 5-2 lead in the final set as De Minaur scrambled back into contention to force a tiebreak.

Rublev finally got over the line, the 27-year-old saving a match point himself in a memorable quarter-final clash.

“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’.”

This was his first win against a top-10 player since August last year.

Rublev’s reward for his fourth semi-final appearance in Qatar was a meeting with Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The Canadian was leading his quarter-final against Daniil Medvedev 6-3 when the Russian had to retire.