Czech Jiri Lehecka returns the ball to Carlos Alcaraz.
Doha: Carlos Alcaraz’s seven-match winning streak came to an end in Doha yesterday when he lost a thrilling three-set battle against rising Czech star Jiri Lehecka in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open quarters.
Alcaraz, who was making his debut appearance at the prestigious event, fell 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in a dramatic clash at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
Lehecka, ranked 25th in the world and fresh off winning his second career title in Brisbane earlier this year, showed his class with fast serves and precise shots to outsmart the top seeded Alcaraz, and rallied from 2-4 down in the third set to book a semi-final berth in Doha for the second time.
“I feel great. 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,” the 23-year-old said after the memorable win.
“I think the most important part was I believed in my game and did not back down.”
Lehecka will next face British lefty Jack Draper or Italian Matteo Berrettini today.
“I will try to recover well and get back on the right track in the morning to build the right things again,” Lehecka said looking ahead.
“I am confident I can bring even more tomorrow and I will try my best.”
Alcaraz, meanwhile, opined he couldn’t have done better.
“Honestly, I don’t know what I could have done better. Probably a few serves, a few points that probably I didn’t play, you know, a good point,” Alcaraz said.
Despite the exit, Alcaraz said that he has become a fan of the event and will return next year.
“I love the tournament. I think the tournament is amazing. Everything, you know, for the players, I think everything is really easy. The people who works here makes this tournament really special,” Alcaraz said.
“The courts are pretty well. For us it’s really, everything is close, everything is easy. I love playing here.”
“I’m going to come back next year, but, yeah, I’m leaving Doha with a head up,” Alcaraz added.
Earlier, second seed Alex de Minaur also exited the tournament after going down to Russia’s Andrey Rublev in a battle between former champions.
De Minaur fought back after conceding the opening set but eventually fell 6-1, 3-6, 7-6.
Rublev, the 2020 Doha champion and seeded fifth this year, became the first to advance to the semis with the victory.
With Alcaraz and De Minaur both out, the tournament has opened the door to a potential new champion in Doha.
Rublev will face Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, who advanced by defeating the 2023 former champion Daniil Medvedev who retired due to injury in another last-eight clash last evening.
RESULTS
Singles Quarter-finals
Andrey Rublev (RUS) bt Alex de Minaur (AUS)
6–1, 3–6, 7–6(10–8)
Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) bt Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 6–3, ret. (Medvedev retired at 0–0 in the second set)
Jiri Lehecka (CZE) bt Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)
6–3, 3–6, 6–4
Doubles – Quarter-final
Yuki Bhambri (IND) / Ivan Dodig (CRO) bt Marcelo Arevalo (ESA) / Mate Pavic (CRO)
2–6, 6–3, [10–8]
Julian Cash (GBR) / Lloyd Glasspool (GBR) bt Rohan Bopanna (IND) / Nuno Borges (POR)
6–4, 6–7(5), [10–7]
