Lehecka reveals the key to defeating Alcaraz

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When the third set was 4-2 in favor of Carlos Alcaraz, a good part of the fans assumed that the hardest part was already done. Big mistake. In the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 in Doha, just when the storm seemed under control, an indomitable Jiri Lehecka appeared to score four consecutive games and claim his first victory against the player from Murcia. Considering his opponent's ranking – in this case, World No. 3 – it's the best victory he has ever achieved in his career, earning him a ticket to the semifinals. And how did he turn the tables? By playing very well, competing like a champion, but above all by adding the final element, that mental factor that always tips the balance at the last second. That's how he explained it on Tennis TV microphones at the end.

"I feel phenomenal after a victory like this, I had never felt anything like what I feel right now. The match had many ups and downs from the start. For me, being able to win a match of this caliber against such a high-level opponent means something extraordinary, it means achieving a huge accomplishment. I always believed in myself, I knew I had this level, that I was capable of producing this kind of tennis in these types of matches, the only thing I lacked was to be a bit more consistent throughout. Now, I aim to achieve these kinds of results more consistently, not as something isolated," confessed the 21-year-old with an incredulous smile still on his face.

"For me, the most important thing in a victory like today's is having maintained faith in my game at all times, not backing down, not falling behind. In the first set, I was a bit lost, but I always wanted to stick to my style of play, being aggressive and executing plays where I am strongest. I had to push it to the limit somehow, so I also had to be patient and wait for the right moment, to showcase all my qualities and win the game. Breaking back in the first set reinforced the idea that I had to keep believing in my game, so that has been the key today," reinforced the man who, right now, would virtually be among the top ten players of the year in the Race.

WHO WOULD YOU PREFER TO FACE IN THE SEMIFINALS?

Fulfilling that unwritten journalistic norm that sometimes irritates professional athletes, which is to ask them about their next challenge when they haven't even had time to digest the previous one. Lehecka experienced this on Thursday minutes after defeating Alcaraz, as the possibility of facing Matteo Berrettini or Jack Draper tomorrow was put on the table, but the Czech was as quick as a lynx to avoid that question and promptly reclaim the spotlight. A detail that may not seem very important, but it shows how focused he is on his own affairs, regardless of the opponent that appears on the other side of the net. Whoever it is, we will have a great duel, for sure.

"When you play such an important tournament as this one in Doha, you know that the level of the draw is tough, that you will face a player with a very high level of play each day, but each will propose a different test. Every day you will have to face a different player, so now what I want is to focus on recovering as best as possible for tomorrow, starting early in the morning to build in the right direction the plan for my next challenge. I am confident that I can offer an even higher level tomorrow than today, so I will seek to give my best," concluded the current World No. 25.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Lehecka revela cuál fue la clave para vencer a Alcaraz