In a shocker at the Qatar Open, world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz fell to Czech underdog Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in a nail-biting quarterfinal clash Thursday. The 21-year-old Spanish sensation, fresh off his Rotterdam Open win earlier this month, saw his 2025 record drop to just two losses — both happening in quarterfinals.
From Break Point to Break Down 💔
Alcaraz led 4-2 in the decisive third set and even held a break point against Lehecka's serve. But the 23-year-old Czech flipped the script, winning three straight games to seal the match. 🎯 \"I don't know what I could've done better,\" a stunned Alcaraz admitted post-match. \"He didn't give up — credit to him.\"
Lehecka's Breakout Moment 🚀
World No. 25 Lehecka called it a \"super big achievement\" after outlasting Alcaraz: \"I wanted to push him to his limits. Trusting my game was key.\" He'll now face Britain's Jack Draper, who rallied past Matteo Berrettini, in Friday's semifinals.
Rublev's Rollercoaster Ride 🎢
In other matches, fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev survived a marathon against Alex de Minaur, saving a match point before winning 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(8). The 2020 Doha champion will meet Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime, who advanced after Daniil Medvedev retired due to illness.
