Alcaraz Upset by Lehecka in Qatar Open Quarterfinals
In a surprising turn of events at the Qatar Open, top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz faced a rare defeat on Thursday. The 21-year-old Spaniard, who has been in remarkable form this year, was bested by 25th-ranked Jiri Lehecka with a scoreline of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. This marks only the second loss for Alcaraz in 2025, the first being against Novak Djokovic during the Australian Open quarterfinals. Despite this setback, Alcaraz has already claimed victory at the Rotterdam Open earlier this month.
Lehecka, a 23-year-old from the Czech Republic, now advances to face either eighth-seeded Jack Draper or Matteo Berrettini in the semifinals. Reflecting on his victory, Lehecka expressed his excitement and determination, stating, “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. I knew that I had the level to produce that kind of tennis.”
He continued, “I didn’t back down. I wanted to push him to his limits. The way I trusted my game was the key today.” Lehecka’s confidence and resilience were evident as he managed to outplay one of the top contenders in the tournament.
Rublev’s Resilience Shines Through
In another thrilling match, fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev showcased his tenacity by saving one match point and requiring eight of his own to overcome second-seeded Alex de Minaur with a score of 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (8). This victory propels Rublev into his fourth semifinals in Doha, a venue where he previously claimed the title in 2020.
Rublev’s next challenge will be against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, who advanced after Daniil Medvedev retired due to food poisoning after losing the first set 6-3. Medvedev expressed his disappointment, stating, “Unfortunately, I had food poisoning. Very disappointed to end my run here in Doha like this as I feel like I was playing well.”
Auger-Aliassime shared his thoughts on the unexpected turn of events, saying, “I thought Medvedev was playing normal until he retired. And then I broke, I held my serve. And he just told (the umpire) that he didn’t want to shake our hands because he was sick. I hope it’s nothing too bad. I was surprised.”
Key Takeaways from the Qatar Open Quarterfinals
- Carlos Alcaraz’s second loss of the year, following his defeat to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.
- Jiri Lehecka’s impressive victory over a top-seeded player, showcasing his potential and determination.
- Andrey Rublev’s resilience in a nail-biting match against Alex de Minaur, highlighting his competitive spirit.
- Felix Auger-Aliassime’s advancement due to Daniil Medvedev’s unfortunate retirement from the match.
The Qatar Open continues to deliver unexpected twists and thrilling matches, keeping tennis fans on the edge of their seats. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the upcoming semifinals to see who will emerge victorious and claim the coveted title.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
