Jack Draper Battles Past Jiri Lehecka to Reach Qatar Open Final
British number one Jack Draper continued his impressive form by reaching the final of the Qatar Open, defeating Jiri Lehecka 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 in a hard-fought semi-final in Doha.
The 23-year-old Briton came from a set down to beat his Czech opponent, securing a spot in his third career ATP final. He will now face world number 10 Andrey Rublev in Saturday’s championship match.
Draper’s Comeback Victory
Lehecka, ranked 27th in the world, started strong, breaking Draper’s serve in the eighth game of the opening set to take control at 6-3. The Czech’s powerful baseline game and aggressive approach seemed to put Draper on the back foot early.
However, the second set saw a dramatic shift, as Draper began to hold serve more comfortably and put pressure on Lehecka’s serve. The set eventually went to a tie-break, where Draper delivered a near-flawless performance, dominating 7-2 to level the match.
In the final set, both players held serve until Lehecka double-faulted at a crucial moment, allowing Draper to secure a decisive break. The frustration boiled over for the Czech, who threw his racket to the floor in disappointment.
Draper capitalized on the momentum, breaking serve again on his second match point, sealing the victory in just under two and a half hours.
“I thought in the first set I put in a sloppy game,” Draper admitted after the match.
“I started to get a lead on his serve, holding easier and creating a lot of pressure behind his serve. I felt more positive as the match went on. I’m proud of the way I competed out there.”
This win marks another significant milestone for Draper, who has struggled with injury setbacks in recent years but has started 2024 in strong form, including a fourth-round appearance at the Australian Open in January.
Rublev Awaits in the Final
Draper will now face Andrey Rublev in the final after the Russian edged out Felix Auger-Aliassime in a thrilling three-set contest (7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)).
Rublev, the tournament’s top seed, fought off a spirited challenge from the Canadian, eventually sealing the victory with his fourth match point in a tense deciding-set tie-break.
“I feel that I’m playing better and better week by week, I’m improving,” said Rublev, who is chasing his 15th career ATP title.
The Russian has a 3-0 head-to-head record against Draper, having won all their previous encounters, but the Briton will be hoping to turn the tide and claim his first ATP 500 title.
All-British Final in Men’s Doubles
In addition to Draper’s success in singles, the Qatar Open men’s doubles final will feature an all-British showdown, highlighting the strength of British tennis in doubles competition.
Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury booked their place in the final by defeating Britain’s Henry Patten and Finland’s Harri Heliovaara 3-6, 6-3, 10-5 in the semi-finals.
Earlier in the day, the other British pair of Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash overcame India’s Yuki Bhambri and Croatia’s Ivan Dodig 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 to set up a historic British battle for the title.
This will be only the third ATP Tour final featuring two all-British teams, and each of those three finals has included at least one of the Skupski brothers.
What’s Next?
Men’s Singles Final: Jack Draper 🇬🇧 vs. Andrey Rublev 🇷🇺
Men’s Doubles Final: Skupski/Salisbury 🇬🇧 vs. Glasspool/Cash 🇬🇧
Can Draper secure his biggest career title against the experienced Rublev? And which British duo will triumph in the doubles final?
The Qatar Open final promises high-quality tennis and an opportunity for British players to shine on the big stage.