Jiri Lehecka Stuns Carlos Alcaraz at Qatar Open Quarterfinals

DOHA, Qatar — Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz faced an unexpected setback during the Qatar Open quarterfinals on Thursday, succumbing to 25th-ranked Jiri Lehecka, who won the match 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. This victory marks the first time Lehecka has defeated a player ranked in the top three, claiming his place in the semifinals.

Alcaraz, who ranked No. 3 in the world, was a favorite to win the tournament after recently clinching the title at the Rotterdam Open. The Spaniard’s defeat comes as a surprise, as it is only his second loss of the year, with the first occurring against Novak Djokovic during the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Lehecka began the match with a rocky start, dropping serve early in the first set. However, he quickly recovered, breaking Alcaraz twice to take the first set. Alcaraz responded in the second set with his powerful gameplay, easily winning 6-3 and leveling the match.

As the decisive third set unfolded, Alcaraz initially appeared to regain control, breaking Lehecka’s serve and leading 4-2. However, showcasing remarkable resilience, Lehecka rallied back, winning four consecutive games to seal the match. Alcaraz’s final return sailed long, securing Lehecka’s victory.

“I feel great. The match was up and down since the beginning,” Lehecka said after the match. “To win a match like this 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.”

Lehecka, 23, expressed pride in his performance, stating, “I was just waiting for the right moment to put all these things together, and it happened when I broke him back in the third set.” This victory not only enhances Lehecka’s confidence but also moves him closer to a career-best ranking in the ATP standings.

Meanwhile, Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, had recently commended his ability to recover from challenging matches. Alcaraz’s disappointment at this loss was palpable, though he remains optimistic for future tournaments. “I don’t know what I could have done better,” Alcaraz said following the match. “It was kind of a difficult feeling, I guess. I have to give credit to him, because when he was down, especially in the third set, he didn’t give up.”

In other quarterfinal matchups, fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev overcame second-seeded Alex de Minaur, winning 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (8). Rublev will face Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals after Auger-Aliassime advanced following the retirement of No. 4 seed Daniil Medvedev due to food poisoning.

As Jiri Lehecka advances to face eighth-seeded Jack Draper, who defeated Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, fans are eager to see how this momentum will fuel his performance in the upcoming matches.