QATAR SF: Andy vs Lehecka - Friday not before 2.30pm GMT

[cazza99]

Andy vs Jiri Lehecka - Friday time tbc.

[Hawkeye]

Not before 2.30pm GMT tomorrow.

[Caro]

Not before 2.30pm GMT tomorrow.

It says 1.30 in UK on TNNS app … but may be later of course if doubles goes long

[clancy]

Everything crossed for Andy making it to the final; he deserves to. x

[Hawkeye]

Got my time from the ATP app, which says 5.30pm local. Doha is 3 hours ahead.

[cazza99]

2.30 on ATP website too.

[Caro]

Sounds like TNNS app might be wrong then, although it’s been right up till now

[HoopGirl]

What do we know about Lehecka?
He beat Rublev so he must be good or was Rublev having an off day?

[themass15]

What do we know about Lehecka?
He beat Rublev so he must be good or was Rublev having an off day?

Rublev hasn't been on top form this year. Jiri Lehecka was the runner up last year in the Next Gen Finals and was a quarter-finalist in Oz. He is no pushover.

[Hawkeye]

Described as one of the new generation of power hitters.

[cazza99]

A bit more about Lehecka

ATP (https://www.atptour.com/en/news/lehecka-forehand-feature-february-2023)- Lehecka's Key To Success: Power. Lots Of Power


How has he stepped up against top-tier competition? Power. Lots of power.

According to statistics courtesy of Tennis Data Innovations and TennisViz, the Czech star already has one of the biggest forehands in the world. Over the past 52 weeks, Lehecka’s average forehand speed has been 79.2 miles per hour with an average spin rate of 2,992 revolutions per minute. That is a daunting combination of speed and spin.

It puts Lehecka in the same neighbourhood as renowned ball-bashers Felix Auger-Aliassime (78.4mph and 3,178rpm), Andrey Rublev (78.2mph and 2,917rpm) and Jannik Sinner (77.8mph and 2,901rpm). The ATP Tour average for forehand speed and spin are 75.1 miles per hour and 2,713 revolutions per minute, respectively.

Tennis Data Innovations and TennisViz also produces a metric called ’Shot Quality’, which analyses each shot's speed, spin, depth, width and the impact it has on the opponent. Lehecka’s 52-week average on the forehand side is 8, and it has improved to 8.3 over his past 10 matches.

Over the past year, his Shot Quality mark has been in the same range as Auger-Aliassime (8.1), Rublev (7.9) and Sinner (7.9). The Tour average is 7.2.


What is scarier for the rest of the Tour is that the 21-year-old Lehecka is still harnessing his power, according to his coach

[Hawkeye]

Players on court!

[Sallydaisy]

Andy 4-0 up 1st set ....
:shades:

[Hawkeye]

And now a triple break up!

[Sallydaisy]

And another break puts Muzz 5-0 up.

[Hawkeye]

Hungry Andy gets a bagel!

[Jane]

Great stuff. :cheer: LS is a bit ahead of Prime.

[Sallydaisy]

Cripes, bagel for late Lunch.
:lol:

[themass15]

Andy now a break down in 2nd

[Hawkeye]

This set not going so well... Lehecka leads 3-0.

[Sallydaisy]

:hmm:

[Hawkeye]

Looks like this is heading to a decider, 5-2*.

[Hawkeye]

Andy has had his chances this set, just hasn't taken them.

1 set all.

[Hawkeye]

All going pear shaped, Lehecka breaks for *2-1 in the decider.

[Hawkeye]

Back on serve! 2-2.

[Hawkeye]

Back off serve again as Lehecka breaks to love.

[Jan]

sigh

[Hawkeye]

Andy saves 3 more match points as Lehecka serves for the match, and then breaks! 5-5!

[murrayfan89]

5-5 Andy still alive in the match!!

[Teresa]

Can he hold now? Have been following live scores with clenched teeth.

[Hawkeye]

30-15, two points from a tie break at worst...

[Hawkeye]

40-15...

[Hawkeye]

6-5!

[Jan]

Can he hold now? Have been following live scores with clenched teeth.
Likewise!

[Hawkeye]

Go for this now Andy! Nothing to lose!

[Hawkeye]

Didn't get a chance to go for it...

Tie break it is.

[murrayfan89]

Tiebreak... Let's go Andy.

[Jan]

:sofa:

[murrayfan89]

Minibreak :)

[Hawkeye]

Not getting excited about the early mini break...

*3-1.

[Hawkeye]

A DF hands the mini break back.

[murrayfan89]

Grrr double fault. 3-2

[Hawkeye]

*4-4. Crunch time.

[Hawkeye]

Big serve! 5-4*.

[murrayfan89]

5-4 what a serve!!

[Hawkeye]

*6-5!

Match point! Please....

[murrayfan89]

6-5 Match Point Andy. Let's gooo!!

[Hawkeye]

Saved.

[murrayfan89]

Nooo 6-6. Good point from Lehecka.

[Hawkeye]

Ace!

7-6*, match point number 2.

[murrayfan89]

Match point 2 Lehecka's serve

[Hawkeye]

:yahoo:

[murrayfan89]

He's done it!!!!

[Jan]

Houdini would be proud!!!!

[Teresa]

How the expletive did he do that? It took me back to hiding in the garden whilst he was playing a tiebreak with Philip Kohlscreiber, long, long ago.

[Sallydaisy]

What a trooper!!!

[Jane]

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

"Pure dead brilliant!!!"

[Jan]

:GBflag::bravo::knight:

[jackie55]

Another brilliant win from Andy:cheer::cheer:

[patlowe]

I'm flabbergasted-in a good way-but flabbergasted none the less! What a warrior. JiřÃ* Lehečka, meet Andy Murray, this is what he does. :knight:

[JAMES4578]

That was amazing, looked like it might be a step too far at 5-4 40-0 but guts, determination and some inspired play got Andy over the line,well done! :cheer::cheer::cheer:. Lehecka was tough once he got into the match and Murray uncertain at times but found a way and of the course Jiri had yet to reach a final but still somewhat astonishing. knew there would be some drama even after the easy start!

[Silverdee]

What a match, what a man! That was pure joy on his face when he got over the line! There’s nobody like him, and there never will be. All that hard work he put into his rehabilitation and he got his reward today.

[themass15]

A m a z i n g !!!

[lovetennis]

Blooming amazing. Once he got to the TB I just felt he would do it. Didn't he look chuffed to get to a final :knight:

[pabbers]

Just finished watching....OMG!!!

[JAMES4578]

Andy will face Medvedev in final after he beat FAA 6-4,7-6.

[HoopGirl]

Great match - I thought it was all done and dusted when he was down all those match points but when he got to the breaker I had this feeling he could do it.
The guy is really something else - he was ecstatic when he got the win!
Such a real battle for him - his opponent is a real challenge.
Enjoy the win Andy - your hard work is reaping dividends

[banskogirl]

I'm flabbergasted-in a good way-but flabbergasted none the less! What a warrior. JiřÃ* Lehečka, meet Andy Murray, this is what he does. :knight:

:rolling::cheer: absolutely Pat!

What a guy!

[Genbrit]

Murray - Mazing!!!! :knight::bravo::cheer::dance: