Andy Murray advanced into the final of ATP 250 Doha after performing another stunning comeback. The Scot was competing against Jiri Lehecka in today's semifinal. The Czech was a pre-match favorite with an average odd 1.52, but the Grand Slam champion started flawlessly, winning the opening set 6-0. Lehecka raised up his level, starting from scratch in second set and gaining the early break which assured himself to take the second set 6-3.
The decider was a clear rollercoaster and a huge blow from Lehecka. The Czech gained a break advantage twice. He had two chances to close the match during Murray's serve within a score 5-3, but the Scot came out of trouble there. Then, the 10th game happened, where Lehecka was 40-0 up in his own service game, producing another three match points. Even knowing the fighting spirit and the ability to turning over the matches, barely anyone could expect any come back here. The Czech landed his serves in all the three points, but Murray took the initiative in the rallies, playing aggresively and forcing the errors of his opponent in each of the match points. Murray leveled the score by winning 5 points in a row and both players arrived into a tie-break, where the 35 years-old turn out on top, closing the match with a score 6-0 3-6 7-6(6).
It is the first final for Murray since Stuttgart in June 2022. Sir Andy waits for his title since October 2019, when he won the tournament in Antwerp after coming back from hip injury.
Daniil Medvedev recorded another straight-sets win against Felix Auger Aliassime after defeating the Canadian in the one-sided semifinal match of ATP 500 Rotterdam last week. This time, the play was much more tight. The world's number 8 opened the match with a break, but FAA broke back in 8th game to level the score. Medvedev regained his advantage in 9th game to move back into the lead and took the set despite being 15-40 down in 10th game within own serve.
Second set had a similar turn of events as the Russian broke as first, but the Canadian leveled the score and this time the tie-break was needed to decide the set. Auger Aliassime had three set-points after gaining the mini-break advantage, but Medvedev denied all of them, winning three points in the row to close the match with a score 6-4 7-6(7).
Here are the semifinals highlights:
