Jiri Lehecka earned the most important win of his profession by Pepperstone ATP Ranking Thursday on the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, the place he upset World No. 5 Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to achieve his second tour-level semi-final.

The 21-year-old Czech entered the conflict off the again of straight-set wins in opposition to Damir Dzumhur and Emil Ruusuvuori and he demonstrated his confidence ranges in a heavy-hitting efficiency in opposition to the highest seed the 25-year-old.

Lehecka timed the ball cleanly off each wings, inflicting injury together with his flat forehand to hit by means of a annoyed Rublev. He broke twice, sealing his victory after one hour and 41 minutes to enhance to 1-1 in his ATP Head2Headvert sequence in opposition to Rublev.

«These past two months have been very great for me,» Lehecka stated in his on-court interview. «I used to be very trying ahead to enjoying right here in Doha on this beautfiul centre court docket, so I’m very pleased with the win and looking out ahead to tomorrow.

The Czech will goal to advance to his first tour-level closing when he faces former World No. 1 Andy Murray or French qualifier Alexandre Muller on Friday. Lehecka, who’s up 4 spots to No. 44 within the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, reached the semi-finals in Rotterdam final yr.

Lehecka ended his 2022 season in fashion when he captured the Next Gen ATP Finals crown in Milan. Using that victory as a springboard, he has made a quick begin to 2023. The 21-year-old now holds an 11-3 report on the yr, highlighted by his quarter-final run on the Australian Open, the place he earned his first Top 10 win in opposition to Felix Auger-Aliassime.

«I have improved everything,» Lehecka stated when refelcting on his progress. «Mostly my mentality on the court. I gained confidence from Next Gen and now I have learnt how to use it.»

Rublev was aiming to proceed his spectacular report on the ATP 250 hard-court occasion, having reached the ultimate in 2018 and gained the title in 2020.