This should be an entertaining clash between two in-form players. Carlos Alcaraz survived a bit of a scare in his round of 16 clash with Italian qualifier Luca Nardi, ultimately prevailing 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
2025 ATP Tour
ATP 500
Qatar Open
Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha, Qatar (Outdoor Hardcourts)
Selected Quarterfinals- 20th February
Carlos Alcaraz (1) 0.2 vs Jiri Lehecka 3.3
This should be an entertaining clash between two in-form players. Carlos Alcaraz survived a bit of a scare in his round of 16 clash with Italian qualifier Luca Nardi, ultimately prevailing 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. To be fair, Nardi played like a man possessed in that 2nd set, hitting thunderous groundstrokes and beautifully judged slices to confound the former World No.1. Alcaraz quickly gained control in the 3rd and improved his 2025 record to 11-1. Alcaraz started this year with an unsuccessful attempt at the career Grand Slam (he lost to Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the Aussie Open). But he bounced back immediately, claiming his maiden indoor title in Rotterdam. Alcaraz- making his first appearance in Doha, started the week in solid fashion, beating veteran Croat Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4. The four-time Grand Slam champion is obviously one of the elite players in world tennis. Sinner’s three-month ban gives Alcaraz an outside shot of reclaiming the World No.1 spot in the coming weeks. These slightly sluggish hardcourts seem to suit the Spaniard and he will take some beating.
23-year-old Czech Jiri Lehecka improved to 11-2 for the season following a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Fabian Marozsan. It was a complete display by the fast-improving Lehecka. He hit 24 winners in the match, winning an incredible 92% of his 2nd serve points (a clear indication of his burgeoning tennis nous). Lehecka enjoyed a solid 2024 campaign, winning a first career title in Adelaide and finishing runner-up in Antwerp (all of this while suffering a back injury that forced him to miss the French Open and Wimbledon Championships). He started this year like a man on a mission, winning a 2nd title in Brisbane before a highly creditable 4th round run at the Aussie Open (where he had the misfortune of running into an inspired Novak Djokovic). He was forced to withdraw from Rotterdam with a thigh issue but has shown no lingering signs of distress in Doha, winning in straight sets against Dimitrov and Marozsan. Lehecka has turned into a powerful server, serving more aces than his opponent in ten of thirteen matches this season. He has a very reliable double-handed backhand that doesn’t just fold under constant pressure (like Tsitsipas).
The Verdict: Alcaraz to win in three at 2.65- Alcaraz leads the head-to-head 1-0, cruising to a 6-2, 6-3 win at Queens in 2023. Lehecka should be far more competitive on these surfaces (grass has proven to be a bit of quagmire for the young Czech). I really think that his double-handed backhand will give him some stability against Alcaraz’s penetrative forehand bombs. Still, Alcaraz is a supreme athlete and I think he will manage to bully his way to a three-set win.
Jack Draper (8) 0.66 vs Matteo Berrettini 1.18
This has the potential to be a Doha classic. The current pinup boy of British tennis, Jack Draper advanced to the quarterfinals after a 6-2, 6-1 thrashing of Christopher O’Connell. Draper was dismissive on serve, hitting five aces and winning 84% of his first-serve points. He was strong off both wings (throwing in a few delicious drop-shots to boot). The lefty is yet to drop a set in Doha- he
beat the dangerous Popyrin in straight sets in his opener. Draper has been beset by injury issues in his young career and this year has been no exception. He showed some real tenacity in Melbourne, advancing to the round of 16 after three consecutive five-set wins. The effort was ultimately too much for the Brit: he was forced to retire with a hip issue while trailing Alcaraz in their round of 16 clash. The youngster never rushed back into action and that decision has seemed to pay off.
Jack Draper’s next opponent will be a man similarly plagued by injury: Matteo Berrettini. The former Wimbledon runner-up missed the start of last season with a foot issue but returned to the tour with a vengeance, reaching four minor finals between April and July (winning three of them). The big-serving Italian was a bit of a flat-track bully last year, failing to make any impression in any of the more significant events. And he came into this event in dire form, winning one match in his first three tournaments. But the big-serving Italian has found something in Doha, winning successive matches for the first time since last year’s Vienna Open. And he picked up arguably the biggest win of his career in his Doha opener, improving to 1-4 against Novak Djokovic in a towering display of first-strike tennis. He was slightly less polished in his round of 16 clash with Talon Griekspoor, needing three sets to outduel the determined Dutchman. Berrettini has served 36 aces this week and will need that weapon to be in fine working order against the classy Brit.
The Verdict: Draper to win in straight sets at 1.65- Draper leads the head-to-head 1-0, beating the Italian in three sets to claim last year’s Stuttgart title. I think Draper looks well poised for another win against the Italian. He is serving extremely well and every facet of his game (forehand, backhand, volleying) looks to be in tiptop shape. He will use that slinging lefty serve to expose Berrettini’s significantly weaker backhand wing.
