Murray scripts comeback to succeed in Doha Open semi-final

File picture of Andy Murray on the Doha Open. AFP

Doha: Former tennis world primary Andy Murray staged one other defiant fightback on Thursday to beat French qualifier Alexandre Muller and attain the Doha Open semi-finals.

Murray struggled with warmth as he misplaced the primary set 4-6 to Muller however then produced a scorching masterclass efficiency to wrap up the following two 6-1, 6-2.

The 35-year-old Scot, slowed by surgical procedure on each of his hips, should now tackle rising ATP Tour powerhitter Jiri Lehecka, aged 21, who additionally fought again from a set right down to beat top-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev.

Murray has had a gruelling time in Doha, the place he’s a two-time winner however a wild card this 12 months.

On Monday, he saved three match factors earlier than successful a final-set tie-break towards Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

Within the second spherical, Murray was solely two factors from defeat within the deciding set earlier than surging again to beat Alexander Zverev 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 7-5.

Towards Muller, Murray received the primary sport with out giving freely some extent and broke his 26-year-old opponent’s first serve, then misplaced two straight service video games because the Frenchman took the primary set in 54 minutes.

Murray received a second set in lower than half-hour and the third in just 40, as he reached his first semi-final since Stuttgart final June.

There was a dramatic enchancment within the veteran’s serve and confidence whereas Muller’s collapsed.

Czech Lehecka claimed the most important win of his profession in beating world quantity 5 Rublev 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

“The previous two months have been very nice for me,” mentioned Lehecka, who additionally reached the Australian Open quarter finals in January. His performances have seen him shoot as much as 52 on this planet rankings.

Rublev, the Doha winner in 2020, went out in his opening match in his 4 earlier tournaments.

Lehecka mentioned he waited to see his opponent’s ways earlier than rushing up his play. He is called one of many tour’s strongest hitters.

“I simply wished to serve a bit extra dangerous and quicker within the second and notably the third units,” mentioned Lehecka.

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