Pro IQRA News Updates.
Battle-hardened former world number one Andy Murray staged a defiant fresh fightback on Thursday to beat French qualifier Alexandre Muller for a place in the Qatar Open semi-finals and declared himself ready to win another title before he retires.
Murray lost the first set 4-6 to Muller but then produced a masterclass to wrap up the next two 6-1, 6-2. The 35-year-old Briton, slowed by surgery on both his hips, must now take on rising Czech power hitter Jiri Lehecka, 21, who also battled back from a set down to beat top-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev.
Third seed Danil Medvedev of Russia beat Australian Christopher O’Connell – who needed treatment for an injured foot – 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. That set up a semi-final against number two Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, or Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina. Murray broke his 26-year-old opponent’s first serve and then lost two straight service games as the Frenchman took the first set in almost an hour.
Murray then won the next two in just over an hour as he reached his first semi-final since Stuttgart last June. He admitted that the first set was “physically very challenging” and that he had to take “more chances” with his shots to take control.
Murray has had a grueling time in Doha, where he is a two-time winner but a wild card this year. He saved three match points before beating Italian Lorenzo Sonego in a first-round tie-break.
Against fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany, Murray was two points from losing in the deciding third set before storming back. The Brit said he expects more tough matches this year but remains confident of his chances against the new generation.
“I would like to have faster games but sometimes it happens like this and I’m sure it won’t continue for the rest of the season.” He said each win made him more confident.
“I would love to win one (title) but I have goals to achieve more than that. I’m putting myself in a position now to do that for the last few games.
“I feel that the last few weeks are a step in the right direction and if I continue to play and compete like I am doing now, not only will I have a chance to win a title but I will have more chances to do it in this last stage of my career.”
His next opponent Lehecka took the biggest win of his career by beating world number five Rublev 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. “The last two months have been very good for me,” said Lehecka, who reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in January. The World 52, who should rise further with this performance, said he was waiting to see his opponent’s tactics before stepping up his game.
“I just wanted to serve a little more risky and faster in the second and especially the third set.” Murray said he watched some of Lehecka’s match and it was “clear he’s got a huge game, he’s serving big”. “I’m going to have to try to find ways to break up his rhythm and make it difficult for him.”