DOHA, Qatar — High-seeded Carlos Alcaraz misplaced for simply the second time this 12 months on Thursday when Twenty fifth-ranked Jiri Lehecka beat him 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 within the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.
Alcaraz’s solely different defeat in 2025 was to Novak Djokovic within the Australian Open quarterfinals. The 21-year-old Spaniard, ranked No. 3, received the Rotterdam Open earlier this month.
“I’ve talked with my crew, with my coach, and truthfully I do not know what I might have accomplished higher,” Alcaraz mentioned in a press convention. “Actually, I do not know. It was type of a tough emotions, I suppose. I’ve to offer credit score to him as effectively, as a result of when he was down, particularly within the third set, he did not hand over.”
Alcaraz led 4-2 within the third set and had a break level on Lehecka’s serve, however could not end off the Czech, who received the following three video games to advance to the semifinals.
The 23-year-old Lehecka will subsequent play eighth-seeded Jack Draper, who knocked out Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
“The match was up and down for the reason that starting,” Lehecka mentioned after beating Alcaraz. “So for me to win a match like that in opposition to a participant like this can be a tremendous huge achievement. I believed in myself. I knew that I had the extent to provide that type of tennis.
“I did not again down,” he continued. “I needed to push him to his limits. The best way I trusted my recreation was the important thing right this moment.”
Earlier, fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev saved one match level and wanted eight of his personal to subdue second-seeded Alex de Minaur 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (8). Rublev reached his fourth semifinals in Doha, the place he received the title in 2020.
He’ll subsequent face Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Daniil Medvedev when the Russian retired after shedding the primary set 6-3.
“Sadly, I had meals poisoning. Very disillusioned to finish my run right here in Doha like this as I really feel like I used to be enjoying effectively,” Medvedev mentioned in an announcement.
Auger-Aliassime mentioned on court docket he thought Medvedev was “enjoying regular” till he retired.
“After which I broke, I held my serve. And he simply informed (the umpire) that he did not need to shake our fingers as a result of he was sick. I hope it is nothing too unhealthy. I used to be shocked,” the Canadian mentioned.
