"I didn't back down" - Jiri Lehecka credits self-belief for shocking victory over Carlos Alcaraz at Qatar Open

Czech tennis star Jiri Lehecka recorded one of the biggest wins of his career on Thursday, when he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in their semifinal encounter at the 2025 Qatar Open.

The former World No.23 dug deep into his reserves to pull off a 6-3 3-6 6-4 win over the reigning Wimbledon champion. Lehecka will now face eighth seed Jack Draper in the semifinals, after the Brit rallied from a set down to fight past Matteo Berrettini in their quarterfinal match.

Read also

Tournament Centre ATP Qatar Open 2025: Schedule, results, Prize Money and TV Guide

Belief in his game led him to victory, admits Lehecka

Following his victory, Lehecka addressed his mindset during the match, pointing out how much he relied on his confidence to overcome his higher-ranked opponent.

“People will say this is the biggest win of your career," asked a reporter in his post-match interview. "How does it feel?"

"I feel great," responded Lehecka. "The match was up and down from the start. To win a match like that against a player like this is a super big achievement. I believed in myself. I knew I had the level to produce that kind of tennis. I believe if I will be more consistent in the matches I’ll be able to bring these results more and more.”

“What was the most important part of your game?" asked another reporter.

“The most important thing was that I still believed in my game," revealed the 23-year old Czech star. "I didn’t back down. Even when I was missing in the first set I still wanted to play aggressive, play my game. I wanted to push him to his limit. I was just waiting for the right moment for me to put all these things together. The way I trusted my game was the key today."

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate tennis experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe