Jiri Lehecka was looking to advance to an ATP 500 quarter-final for the first time in his career.
The Czech ATP star had enjoyed a brilliant start to his 2025 season, winning 12 of his 14 matches.
World number 25 Lehecka won the Brisbane International in January, before reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open.
The 23-year-old then traveled to the Middle East for the Qatar Open in Doha, where he immediately rediscovered the form that saw him reach the semi-finals in 2023.
Taking down Grigor Dimitrov and Fabian Marozsan in his opening two contests, Lehecka advanced to the quarters, where he faced his toughest test yet.
Passing with flying colors, Lehecka beat Carlos Alcaraz in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, securing the highest-ranked win of his young career.
A semi-final clash with Jack Draper awaited the Czech youngster, as he narrowly came up short against the British number one.
Following his defeat, Lehecka had some kind words for the world number 16.
Jiri Lehecka wishes Jack Draper ‘good luck’ in the final after Qatar Open defeat
Jack Draper battled back from a set down to beat Lehecka, 3-6, 7-6, 6-3, to qualify for his second career ATP 500 final.
After the match, Lehecka took to social media, congratulating his opponent.
“Another good week here in Doha,” he said.
“Well played Jack Draper and good luck in the final.
“Thanks Qatar Tennis for making this event possible and I can’t wait to be back next year.”
Draper will play Andrey Rublev in the final, who has enjoyed his best week of 2025, having struggled during the early weeks of the season.
Rublev beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semis, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6, as he qualified for another final at the level he has enjoyed success at over recent years.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are the only two top-ten players who have won more ATP 500 titles than Rublev, as he continues to impress.
- 2020 Hamburg Open (ATP 500) – Beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final
- 2020 St Petersburg Open (ATP 500) – Beat Borna Coric in the final
- 2020 Vienna Open (ATP 500) – Beat Lorenzo Sonego in the final
- 2021 Rotterdam Open (ATP 500) – Beat Marton Fucsovics in the final
- 2022 Dubai Tennis Championships (ATP 500) – Beat Jiri Vesely in the final
The Russian will no doubt be hoping for more of the same when he takes on Draper on Saturday, February 22.
Jiri Lehecka boosts ATP Finals chances with strong week in Qatar
Just two months into the 2025 season, it is of course far too early to discuss qualification for November’s ATP Finals.
Players ranked in and around the top eight will, however, feel encouraged by how they’ve started the year as they look to book their spot in Turin.
| Rank | Name | Points | 2025 wins |
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | 2,000 | 7 |
| 2 | Alexander Zverev | 1,505 | 11 |
| 3 | Carlos Alcaraz | 1,000 | 11 |
| 4 | Alex de Minaur | 885 | 12 |
| 5 | Ben Shelton | 850 | 6 |
| 6 | Novak Djokovic | 850 | 7 |
| 7 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | 805 | 12 |
| 8 | Tommy Paul | 700 | 9 |
| 9 | Jiri Lehecka | 700 | 12 |
| 10 | Denis Shapovalov | 575 | 7 |
| 11 | Andrey Rublev | 540 | 8 |
| 12 | Jack Draper | 530 | 7 |
No player on the ATP Tour has won more matches in 2025 than Lehecka, as he currently sits just one spot outside qualification for the year-end finals in Turin.
He’ll now look ahead to the Dubai Tennis Championships, where he’ll face off against world number 14 Ugo Humbert in the first round.
The Frenchman won a title in his last outing, as Humbert beat Hamad Medjedovic to lift the trophy in Marseille for the second year running.
The pair have surprisingly never played one another during their careers to date but will both be searching for a big win next week.
Lehecka is set to take on Humbert in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Monday, February 24.
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