DOHA, Qatar — Prime-seeded Carlos Alcaraz misplaced for simply the second time this yr 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 staff, with my coach, and actually I don’t know what I may have executed higher,” Alcaraz stated in a press convention. “Truthfully, I don’t know. It was sort of a troublesome emotions, I assume. I’ve to offer credit score to him as properly, as a result of when he was down, particularly within the third set, he didn’t quit.”
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 subsequent 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 stated after beating Alcaraz. “So for me to win a match like that towards a participant like this can be a tremendous large achievement. I believed in myself. I knew that I had the extent to supply that sort of tennis.
“I did not again down,” he continued. “I wished to push him to his limits. The best way I trusted my recreation was the important thing at the 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 Félix Auger-Aliassime, who beat Daniil Medvedev when the Russian retired after dropping the primary set 6-3.
“Sadly, I had meals poisoning. Very dissatisfied to finish my run right here in Doha like this as I really feel like I used to be taking part in properly,” Medvedev stated in an announcement.
Auger-Aliassime stated on courtroom he thought Medvedev was “taking part in regular” till he retired.
“After which I broke, I held my serve. And he simply advised (the umpire) that he didn’t wish to shake our palms as a result of he was sick. I hope it’s nothing too dangerous. I used to be shocked,” the Canadian stated.
