In a thrilling quarterfinal match at the Qatar Open, top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz suffered only his second defeat of the year at the hands of 25th-ranked Jiri Lehecka. The match went the distance with Lehecka prevailing 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, showcasing his resilience and determination.
Alcaraz, who had previously lost only to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarterfinals, expressed his disappointment in a post-match press conference. Despite leading 4-2 in the third set and holding a break point, he couldn't close out the match against the Czech player.
Lehecka, aged 23, displayed remarkable composure and belief in his abilities, stating that he never backed down and pushed Alcaraz to his limits. His victory sets up a semifinal clash with eighth-seeded Jack Draper, who overcame Matteo Berrettini in a hard-fought encounter.
Meanwhile, Andrey Rublev staged a remarkable comeback against second-seeded Alex de Minaur, saving a match point before prevailing in a tense third-set tiebreak. Rublev, a former champion in Doha, will face Canada's Félix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals.
Auger-Aliassime advanced to the last four after Daniil Medvedev retired due to food poisoning, expressing disappointment at ending his run in such a manner. The Canadian player, surprised by Medvedev's sudden retirement, now looks ahead to his semifinal showdown with Rublev.
The Qatar Open continues to deliver thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as the tournament progresses.
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