Andy Murray saves five match points to reach Qatar Open final after epic win over Lehecka

| by Tom Grant

Andy Murray will play for his first title since 2019 after doing it again and saving FIVE match points on his way to the Qatar Open final in an astonishing finish against Jiri Lehecka.

The young Czech served for the match and found himself 40-0 up, only for the warrior that is Murray to find a way - as he has done so many times in his career – to battle back and turn the final set on its head. Playing in his 102nd ATP semi-final, Murray had to play his 12th set of the week in order to win 6-0, 3-6, 7-6(6) as another one of his matches went into sudden death.

Murray it seems doesn’t do straight sets anymore after his two five-setters at the Australian Open and battles with Lorenzo Sonego, Alexander Zverev and Alexandre Muller all going the distance already this week.

Murray didn’t have to play at his best in the opening set to overcome the 21-year-old Lehecka, who couldn’t find the rhythm that helped him take out Rublev. The Brit broke serve on three occasions in the opening set as his younger opponent really struggled, winning only 37% of points on his first serve. Neither player had broken sweat by the time Murray had carved out two set points and he claimed his easiest set of the week when Lehecka could only find the net.

Andy Murray battles back against Alexandre Muller to reach semi-finals at Qatar Open
Andy Murray battles back against Alexandre Muller to reach semi-finals at Qatar Open

The young Czech star took a toilet break before the second set - perhaps to give himself a shake - and it seemed to work as he finally got on the scoreboard by holding serve to love. There was now a very different feel to proceedings as Lehecka started showcasing his power, hitting winner after winner to break the Murray serve and lead 2-0.

Momentum had changed significantly, and it was Murray who had to respond. But try as he may, he couldn’t find a break, failing to take two chances given in game seven as Lehecka went on to level up the match with just the solitary break.

The pair shared service games at the start of the third and then swapped breaks of serve as the quality of the match went up a notch. But Lehecka made the break through, finding the line on the first of three break points after Murray had left it thinking it was going long. The Czech had the break and his nose in front and served for it at 5-4.

Lehecka initially made light work, racing to three match points after some solid groundstrokes and volleys at the net. But Murray has made a habit of snatching victory from from the jaws of defeat and somehow did it again by turning it around and breaking serve.

Eventually, the third set reached a tie-break, as both players held their last service game. The tiebreak was swinging from one to the other and Murray took the match on his second match point to win another amazing match.

In the final, Murray will play against Daniil Medvedev and Felix Auger-Aliassime as the winner will get 250 points and $209,445 in prize money.

2023 Qatar Open Doha ATP Prize Money & Points Overview - $1,377,025
2023 Qatar Open Doha ATP Prize Money & Points Overview - $1,377,025

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