Jiri Lehecka vs Andy Murray Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Qatar Open

Prediction published on 24/02/2023, 01:52  by Kennedy Kechula in Tennis Predictions

Andy Murray (wildcard) and the unseeded Jiri Lehecka will face off in the semifinals of the Qatar Open on Friday. Lehecka is ranked 52nd in the world while Murray is in 70th place. It is the first time that the two players are playing each other and the winner here will advance to the final to take on either second-seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or third-seed Daniil Medvedev. Lehecka is through to his first semifinal of the season after defeating Andrey Rublev 2-1 in the quarterfinals. He dropped the first set, his first of the tournament, against the top-seeded Russian before rallying to win the final two. The Czech number one is up to 44th in the live ranking and can move into the top 40 for the second time this season with a win over Murray. Lehecka has risen as high as 37th this season thanks to his superb showing at the Australian Open where he managed a quarterfinal berth for the first time in his career.

Andy Murray, playing in Doha on a wildcard, is in his first semifinal since June 2022. The Brit was forced to come back again from a losing position to beat the qualifier Alexandre Muller 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. Murray had also relinquished the first set in the first-round win over Lorenzo Sonego. All of Murray’s three matches in Doha have been played to three sets and in the second round, he prevailed in a three-hour marathon with fourth seed Alexander Zverev. Murray started the year ranked inside the top 50 but inconsistencies and a month-long hiatus before arriving in Doha have seen him drop to 70th, his success however in Qatar, where he is a two-time champion, has seen him head right back up and he is currently placed at number 61 in the live ranking. Advancing to his first final in Doha since 2017 will move him up 10 more places to 51st.