Andrey Rublev just barely managed to stay alive in Doha in his opening match and now moves on to the quarterfinals to face Jiri Lehecka on Thursday. Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina are also aiming for a place in the last four.
(1) Andrey Rublev vs. Jiri Lehecka
Needing a win in the worst way with a disappointing 4-4 record for the season heading into the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Rublev faced three match points on Tallon Griekspoor’s own serve on Wednesday. Nonetheless, the top seed somehow got his Doha campaign off the ground by battling back for a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(6) victory.
It won’t get any easier with Lehecka on the other side of the net during quarterfinal competition on Thursday. Lehecka finished runner-up at the NextGen ATP Finals last fall and so far in 2023 is 10-3 with a quarterfinal performance at the Australian Open and straight-set victories in Doha over Damir Dzumhur and Emil Ruusuvuori. The only previous meeting between these two players came last summer on the red clay of Belgrade; Rublev just barely prevailed 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-2, and that was before Lehecka started making a name for himself. This is a great opportunity for the 21-year-old Czech to get revenge and maintain his red-hot form.
Pick: Lehecka in 3
(7) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. (2) Felix Auger-Aliassime
Auger-Aliassime and Davidovich Fokina will be squaring off for the fourth time in their careers (third at the ATP level). All three of their previous encounters have gone Auger-Aliassime’s way, but it has never been easy. He won 7-5, 7-5 at the 2018 Alicante Challenger, 7-6(4), 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 7-6(4) at the 2022 Australian Open, and 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 at the Rome Masters last spring.
Another good one should be in the cards. Auger-Aliassime is a considerable favorite, but he was struggling coming into the week and required three sets to get past Jason Kubler in round one. Davidovich Fokina ousted both Constant Lestienne and Soonwoo Kwon in easy straight sets. Although an upset is possible, the 31st-ranked Spaniard’s winless head-to-head record is difficult to look past and he has not advanced to a semifinal since finishing runner-up at the Monte-Carlo Masters last April.
Pick: Auger-Aliassime in 3
WWW?
Rublev in 3. He needs to squeak by this opponent; he can do it.
FAA in 3. It should be a close match.
Ruble squeaked by…can do it again, in 3….AA in a tight 3.
I did not watch the Rublev match, and I wasn’t prepared for the brilliance of Lehecka. Now I know. I feel bad for Rublev, but the sting is not as it was after he lost to Tsitsipas in Monaco several years ago.
Andy Murray dropped the first set to the Frenchman A. Muller, but it was all Andy to the finish line. Considering the pain and process of getting a hip replacement watching him play so confidently is miraculous.
Wish he’d start winning in two though. Not 25 any more, as well as the hip.
I didn’t see the first set, Margot. By the 2nd and 3rd sets, it looks like Andy figured him out. By the time I was awake, Andy was sailing through the 3rd. He’s moving well with no complaints.
Medvedev is having trouble with Aussie O’Connell. First time watching O’Connell, and Meddie might be out soon to the talented muscleman from Sydney.
Barbora Krejcikove beat Sabalenka. The SFs are set: Swiatek/Gauff and Krejcikova/Pegula.
Medvedev had a tough match yesterday versus Liam Broady. It was a win in 2 sets, but they ground each other to a fine powder.
I do not feel certain anymore about my winner pick, Medvedev.
Big congrats to Sir Andy! Yet another 3 setter taken down to the wire vs Lehecka! He’s through to the final v either Meddy or FAA! Will he have anything left?