SM
Arsenal vs. Man United: 1 day 1 hr 18 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Andy Murray saves five match points to reach Qatar Open final

:Headline: Andy Murray saves five match points to reach Qatar Open final:
Andy Murray saves five match points to reach the Qatar Open final courtesy of another pulsating three-set win over the Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka.
Sports Mole

Andy Murray reached his first ATP Tour final for eight months courtesy of another pulsating three-set win over the Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka in the Qatar Open.

Once again displaying his unparalleled fighting spirit, the former world number one saved five match points en route to a 6-0 3-6 7-6[6] victory, and he will meet either Daniil Medvedev or Felix Auger-Aliassime for a shot at glory.

Despite playing a trio of three-setters with Lorenzo Sonego, Alexander Zverev and Alexandre Muller earlier in the week, Murray remarkably stormed to a first-set bagel in just 32 minutes.

Having broken Lehecka's serve in the opening game, Murray ceded three break points in the second with a double fault, but he managed to save all three of them to hold for a 2-0 lead.

Winning a paltry 37% of points in his first serve during the opening set, an out-of-sorts Lehecka was broken twice more to cede the opening set with a whimper, as a succession of Murray winners closed out the opener.

However, the Czech starlet came roaring back at the start of the second, clinching two love holds either side of a timely break to establish a 3-0 advantage before Murray got on the board.

The Briton threatened to break back in the seventh game, but Lehecka beat away two more break points to hold for 5-2 and move one game away from forcing a third, doing so with a hold to 30.

Lehecka drew first blood in the third set with a break in game three, but in a tale as old as time, Murray broke back straight away before Lehecka immediately restored his one-game advantage with a second break.

Murray saved his two first match points on serve to hold for 4-5, and the writing was seemingly on the wall for the Brit when Lehecka went 40-0 up in game 10, but the 35-year-old astonishingly broke back for 5-5 and forced a tie-breaker.

Unforced errors from Lehecka proved fatal in the deciding tie-breaker, where Murray missed one match point before bringing up a second with an ace, and one final error from Lehecka on serve confirmed Murray's spot in the showpiece event in just under two-and-a-half hours.

Later on Friday, Cameron Norrie advanced to the semi-finals of the Rio Open courtesy of a three-set win over Bolivia's Hugo Dellien, prevailing 4-6 6-1 6-4 in one hour and 55 minutes.

Dellien broke Norrie in the third game of the first set and posted a series of comfortable holds en route to a 1-0 lead in the match, but he could not keep up the intensity for long as Norrie roared into a 4-0 lead in the second set.

Dellien broke back in the fifth game thanks to some double faults from Norrie, but the British number one won the next two games to take the quarter-final all the way, and he would earn the crucial third-set break in the fifth game.

Despite posting no fewer than three double faults in the 10th game - while also saving a break-back point - Norrie came through an uncomfortable hold to set up a semi-final meeting with Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles.

body check tags ::

amp_article__507543 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2023-02-24 22:47:03:
html db last update - 2023-02-24 22:47:03 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Lorenzo Sonego

Share this article now:
AM
Read Next:
Andy Murray survives scare to reach Qatar Open semi-finals
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Lorenzo Sonego Alexandre Muller Alexander Zverev Andy Murray Jiri Lehecka Daniil Medvedev Felix Auger-Aliassime Cameron Norrie Hugo Dellien Bernabe Zapata Miralles Tennis
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Andy Murray survives scare to reach Qatar Open semi-finals
Liverpool 'yet to make breakthrough' in contract talks with star player
Yoro is back! When could Man United centre-back make his debut?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1311112681834
2Arsenal1374226141225
3Chelsea1374226141225
4Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton136522217523
5Manchester CityMan City137242219323
6Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest136431613322
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1362528141420
8Brentford136252623320
9Manchester UnitedMan Utd135441713419
10Fulham135441818019
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle135441414019
12Aston Villa135441922-319
13Bournemouth135352019118
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham134361724-715
15Everton132561021-1111
16Leicester CityLeicester132471627-1110
17Crystal Palace131661118-79
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves132382232-109
19Ipswich TownIpswich131661324-119
20Southampton1312101025-155
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

All-time PL combined XI: Man Utd vs. Arsenal

1

AP

Who is Europe's top league scorer in 2024?

2

WI

Preview: Lazio vs. Napoli - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PL

"They all want to play": Arteta hints at Arsenal injury boosts for Man United?

4

&A

PSG preparing 'bold' swap deal for Chelsea forward Nkunku

5

PP

Barcelona boss Flick 'held emergency meeting' after Las Palmas defeat

6

BB

Man United 'sent scouts' to watch in-demand £60m attacker

7

MU

Slot delivers Liverpool injury update, confirms Alisson return date

8

SD

Tuesday's Premier League predictions including Leicester vs. West Ham

9

TP

Liverpool handed major boost as Newcastle star is an injury doubt

10

LH


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .