Having already overcome Lorenzo Sonego, Alexander Zverev and world No 170 Alexandre Muller in deciding sets to reach the Qatar ExxonMobil Open semi-finals; Andy Murray dramatically beat Czech youngster Jiri Lehecka to reach the final; Daniil Medvedev awaits in Saturday's final
Friday 24 February 2023 19:32, UK
Andy Murray saved five match points as he staged a dramatic comeback to beat Czech youngster Jiri Lehecka and book a place in the final of the Qatar Open final.
"That was one of the most amazing turnarounds I've had in my career," Murray said in his on court interview following his 6-0 3-6 7-6 win.
Murray stormed out of the blocks to take the first set in dominant fashion, winning 6-0, before the 21-year-old Lehecka hit back to win the second set 6-3.
Murray will face Daniil Medvedev in Saturday's final after the Russian beat Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 7-6 on Friday.
Playing in his first ATP semi-final since June 2022, the 35-year-old Murray staved off five match points in the third set to force the match to 5-5 and then on to a deciding tiebreak.
In a tight tiebreak, the Scot kept his composure to pull off a quite superb victory.
"He obviously had the three match points at 5-4, but also when I was serving at 5-3. And I just don't know [how]," Murray added.
"I knew it was probably his first time serving for a final, so I had to make sure I tried to keep the pressure on at the end, because I know how difficult it is to serve matches like that out.
"But I have no idea how I managed to turn that one around to be honest."
