Jiří Lehečka (22) finished in the quarterfinals at the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai, he scratched the duel with Alexander Bublik (26) from Kazakhstan at the score of 4:6 and 1:4 due to an injury to his right hand. While Lehečka fought for almost three hours in the previous match with Karen Chačanov, this time due to health problems the match lasted only 56 minutes. Daniil Medvedev (28) easily handled Alejandro Davidovich (24) and continues to defend his title.
Bublik – Lehečka 6:4, 4:1 (scratch)
Although Leheček managed to enter the match, he took the service of the seventh seeded player of the tournament at the first opportunity. But then came a quick answer and a certain play by Bublik, which meant a turnaround. Ranař from Kazakhstan attacked Leheček’s serve already at 3:3, and even though the Czech tennis player saved three break points, he had no answer to Bublik’s game in the ninth game.
Feel better soon and come back stronger
Lehecka retires in Dubai while facing Bublik.@DDFTennis | #DDFTennispic.twitter.com/ikcduHmSl7
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 29, 2024
After losing the first set, Lehečka lost his serve in the first game, and it became increasingly clear that he had problems with his right hand. When Bublik took advantage of the next opportunity and made it 4:1, the native of Mladá Boleslav decided to scratch the match.
Already on Wednesday, due to health problems, Jakub Menšík withdrew from the second round match in Dubai. The 18-year-old talent had to withdraw due to an injury to his right elbow.
Match statistics. (@livesport)
Bublik, who already knocked out the second Czech tennis player in Dubai (the first was Tomáš Macháč in the opening round 2:1 in sets), could move to the top 20 players in the world ranking for the first time in his career thanks to his progress to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the tennis player from Kazakhstan is waiting for Andrej Rubljov, who also made it to the top quartet after the scratch.
Last year’s champion and last year’s finalist Rubljov also managed the fourth match against Sebastian Korda without losing a set, in the quarterfinals at the 500 in Dubai, the American with Czech roots lost to him at the score of 4:6, 3:4.
Medvedev – Davidovich 6:2, 6:3
Daniil Medvedev continues to defend last year’s title, the top seed in the quarter-finals did not give Alejandro Davidovich a chance. Although he faced five break points in the match, he averted four of them and showed the only hesitation on serve at 4:0 in the second set. In Dubai, he can still triumph twice in the same venue for the first time in his career.
In his career, he collected a total of 20 titles on the highest circuit, but each in a different city. In addition, with another first in the 500 in the United Arab Emirates, he would certainly at least partially make up for the lost final at the Australian Open in January, in which he led 2:0 in sets against Jannik Sinner, as well as in the final last year with Rafael Nadal.
The semi-final opponent of the former US Open champion, who is playing only his second tournament this year, will be Ugo Humbert. He and the Frenchman can equalize the mutual balance at 2:2.
Humbert survived three match points in a dramatic tie-break, won the shortened game 10:8 and eventually beat Hubert Hurkacz 3:6, 7:6, 6:3 in the quarterfinals. After another scalp of the Polish number one this year, she will play for her biggest final since the triumph in Halle 2021.
Results of the ATP 500 Dubai tournament
The article was originally published for Livesport News.
