After advancing to the Madrid Open semi-final due to an opponent’s injury, Jiri Lehecka suffered the same fate, allowing Felix Auger-Aliassime to move into the final with a retirement.
Several unusual occurrences unfolded at the Madrid Open recently. Two retirements and a withdrawal significantly impacted the journeys of these players. Lehecka progressed to the semi-final of the Madrid Open when Daniil Medvedev retired in the quarter-final.
Medvedev encountered groin issues after dropping the first set and decided to retire from the match. The following day, Lehecka also retired due to early-match issues.
Despite taking a medical timeout off the court, it was evident upon his return that he couldn’t continue. After playing a few points, he experienced spasms mid-point and chose to retire.
His disappointment was palpable as he smashed his racquet after conceding to Auger-Aliassime, indicating the significance of the match to him. It was an opportunity for him to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 final given his strong performance thus far.
Just a few days ago, he defeated Nadal and displayed confidence in his game. As for Auger-Aliassime, his previous match was against Casper Ruud in the fourth round.
Despite comfortably winning that match, he advanced to the semi-final after Jannik Sinner withdrew before their match. Now, he moves into the final without playing another opponent.
This has been an unusual series of events for the Canadian player, potentially affecting his readiness for the Madrid Open final. However, he will face Andrey Rublev in the final, who defeated Taylor Fritz to secure his spot.
