Carlos Alcaraz had a significant lead against Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Qatar Open in Doha, but he couldn’t convert it into a win.
Alcaraz defeated Marin Cilic in the tournament’s first round. In the second round, the Spaniard squandered a substantial second-set lead against Luca Nardi. At one point, the scoreboard showed 6-1, 4-1, and 40-40 for Alcaraz, but shortly after, his opponent took the second set 6-4.
That time, the 21-year-old managed to escape a shocking loss, winning the third set to conclude the match 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. However, after losing another significant lead in the quarter-finals, Alcaraz could not secure a victory.
His opponent, Lehecka, is a highly talented player who has the potential to rank higher but often struggles with injuries, leading to inconsistency in his results.
In this match, Lehecka demonstrated why he is a feared competitor. Despite Alcaraz starting strong with the first break, he was quickly broken back and subsequently fell behind by one break.
From the moment he was down 1-2, Lehecka played exceptionally solid tennis. He saved two break points and consistently won the crucial points throughout the match, ultimately taking the first set 6-3.
Alcaraz, however, elevated his game in the second set. He did not face a single break point and broke the Czech’s serve once, comfortably winning the second set 6-3.
In the third set, Alcaraz appeared to regain control, being the only player with break points and at one point leading 4-2 and 40-30.
After that, Alcaraz seemed to fade from the court. Though Lehecka also stepped up his level, Alcaraz could not respond.
Lehecka won 14 of the last 18 points to stun the top seed, sealing the match 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. The Czech player will now prepare for his semi-final match against the winner between Jack Draper and Matteo Berrettini.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz will prepare for the Indian Wells Open, which will be his next tournament. Lehecka will likely take some time to celebrate his victory, clearly delighted after taking down the 21-year-old Spaniard.
“I feel great. The match was up and down from the start. To win a match like that against a player like this is a super big achievement. I believed in myself. I knew I had the level to produce that kind of tennis. I believe if I am more consistent in the matches, I’ll be able to bring these results more and more.”
“The most important thing was that I still believed in my game. I didn’t back down. Even when I was missing in the first set, I still wanted to play aggressively, play my game. I wanted to push him to his limit. I was just waiting for the right moment to put all these things together. The way I trusted my game was the key today.”
