One all-seeded showdown and one all-unseeded affair will headline the Doha semifinals on Friday. Daniil Medvedev is facing Felix Auger-Aliassime and three-set king Andy Murray tries to keep his run going against Jiri Lehecka.
(3) Daniil Medvedev vs. (2) Felix Auger-Aliassime
Medvedev and Auger-Aliassime will be going head-to-head for the sixth time in their careers and for the second time this season when they meet again in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open semifinals on Friday. All five of their previous encounters have gone Medvedev’s way, most recently via a 6-2, 6-4 quarterfinal rout last week in Rotterdam. Auger-Aliassime has forced a final set twice, including in a 6-7(4), 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-5, 6-4 loss from match point up in the 2022 Australian Open quarters.
Is there any reason to think Auger-Aliassime will turn the tide from what transpired in Rotterdam? Probably not. If anything, a move from indoors to outdoors favors Medvedev–who has always done his best work on outdoor hard courts and can handle adverse conditions better than almost anyone on tour. The world No. 8 hasn’t been invincible this week (he went to 7-5 in the third set with Christopher O’Connell on Thursday), but the Rotterdam title probably turned everything around for Medvedev and should have him well on his way to a huge year. Once again, Medvedev will likely be able to break down Auger-Aliassime’s game from the back of the court.
Pick: Medvedev in 2
Jiri Lehecka vs. (WC) Andy Murray
Murray has battled into the semifinals the Murray way. All three of his matches so far in Doha have required three sets. The 35-year-old Scot beat Lorenzo Sonego 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4), Alexander Zverev 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-5, and Alexandre Muller 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Murray even saved three match points in the opening round against Sonego.
It doesn’t get any easier for the world No. 70 in Friday’s semifinals, as a red-hot Lehecka will be on the other side of the net. The 21-year-old finished runner-up at the 2022 NextGen ATP Finals and has begun this season with an 11-3 record. That includes a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open plus Doha wins over Damir Dzumhur, Emil Ruusuvuori, and No. 1 seed Andrey Rublev. With Lehecka on fire and Murray coming off a trio of three-setters, the Czech has to like his chances of reaching a first-ever ATP final.
Pick: Lehecka in 3
Andy Murray is back. Margot, you might not be happy with me screaming that out loud, but good grief, I am so proud of him!
Go, Andy!
I have now watched Lehecka and see why people are talking him up.
Oh I don’t mind, exoerience told in that one! Can’t see him beating Med though, if Med it is.
Did you hear Medwed’s post-match interview, Margot? He was just brilliant on the topic of Andy! I’d post it if I could remember like I used to. But there was a line in his speech that was perfect about Andy. 😍
Swiatek cruised in straight sets again over Coco. I like Coco Gauff, and her time is coming soon. I’m anxious to see Iga defend at least some of her points.
Barbora Krejcikova got the win over Pegula in 3 sets. I was watching Andy and was unable to see that SF. Krejcikova has such a subtle power and keen anticipation that I can see her at least making the final in three sets, if not beating Iga in straights. The way Barbora took out Sabalenka makes me believe the Czech has a clear plan for the final versus Swiatek. WTA Dubai Final will not be boring! 😀
Medvedev in 3. 🤞
Sir Andy really is trying to make us all believers….but he won’t win this one….LeCek in 3; and Med in 3.
Amazing Andy! Yay!