Rublev Faces Auger-Aliassime Amid Doha Upsets

DOHA, Qatar — Andrey Rublev, the top remaining seed at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, is set to face Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semifinals after a week filled with surprises at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. The tournament has seen its share of upsets, leaving Rublev as the only player in the top five still in contention.

Rublev, the world’s fifth-ranked player, and Auger-Aliassime will meet for the seventh time in their careers on Friday, with the series currently favoring Rublev 5-1. The Russian’s victories in 2024 were hard-fought, both edging past the Canadian in three-set matches. Their last encounters showcased Rublev’s tenacity, winning 7-5 in the third set at both the Rotterdam Open and the Madrid Masters finals.

After initially struggling this week, Auger-Aliassime has found his stride. The 23rd-ranked player outlasted Quentin Halys in a tense third-set tiebreaker to advance, followed by a walkover from Hamad Medjedovic and a retirement from Daniil Medvedev, whom he defeated 6-3 in the first set.

Rublev has rebounded impressively since a rough beginning to the tournament, claiming victories over Alexander Bublik and Nuno Borges in straight sets and overcoming Alex de Minaur 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(8) in the quarterfinal match. Rublev now boasts a 14-5 career record at the Qatar Open, having previously lifted the trophy in 2020.

Jiri Lehecka, who eliminated world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, will face Jack Draper in the other semifinal match. Lehecka’s rise indicates his excellent form, having already bagged a title in Brisbane earlier this year and possessing a 13-2 win-loss record so far in the season. Lehecka’s quarterfinal match against Alcaraz featured a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 4-2 deficit in the deciding set.

In earlier rounds, Lehecka also defeated Grigor Dimitrov and Fabian Marozsan convincingly. He and Draper have faced off twice before, with each player winning one match in 2024. Draper, ranked 16th, has been in solid form as well with a 6-1 record this year, leading him to victories against Alexei Popyrin, Christopher O’Connell, and Matteo Berrettini.

“I didn’t expect to end Alcaraz’s winning streak,” Lehecka said. “This victory speaks volumes about my progress, and I look forward to facing Jack next.”

Draper commented on the upcoming match, stating, “I respect Jiri’s game a lot. It will be a challenging encounter, but I’m ready.”

The Doha tournament has been a thrilling showcase of talent with both established stars and rising players vying for their shot at the title as they prepare for the semifinals of this prestigious ATP 500 event.