Draper beats Lehecka to reach Qatar Open final
Jack Draper is looking to win a third ATP Tour title
British number one Jack Draper reached the final of the Qatar Open with a 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 victory against Jiri Lehecka.
The Czech Republic’s Lehecka took control of the opening set after breaking serve in the eighth game, before a more even second set went to a tie-break.
Draper – who defeated former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini on Thursday – produced a near-flawless performance in the tie-break to send the match to a decider.
The final set went with serve until a double fault from Lehecka gifted the 23-year-old Briton a break, with the Czech throwing his racket to the floor in frustration.
Draper, whose recent injury problems have been well-documented, broke serve again with his second match point to give himself a chance of winning a third career title.
“I thought in the first set I put in a sloppy game,” Draper said.
“I started to get a lead on his [Lehecka’s] serve, holding easier and creating a lot of pressure behind his serve.
“I felt more positive as the match went on. I’m proud of the way I competed out there.”
Draper, who reached the Australian Open fourth round in January, will meet Andrey Rublev in Saturday’s final after the Russian defeated Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7-5).
An even contest came down to a thrilling deciding set, with world number 10 Rublev securing victory with his fourth match point.
“I feel that I’m playing better and better week by week, I’m improving,” said Rublev, who has won all three previous meetings with Draper.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s men’s doubles final will be an all-British affair after Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury beat Britain’s Henry Patten and Finland’s Harri Heliovaara 3-6 6-3 10-5.
Earlier on Friday British pair Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash defeated India’s Yuki Bhambri and Croatia’s Ivan Dodig 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
This will be the third ATP Tour final between two all-British teams, with all three involving at least one of the Skupski brothers.
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Andrey Rublev vs. Jack Draper: Where to Watch, Doha Preview, Betting Odds
Both players are seeking their first ATP title of the year; for Rublev, a 17th career win and for Draper his third.
Published Feb 21, 2025
🖥️📱 Click here for live coverage on TennisChannel.com (United States only; estimated start time 10:00 am ET)
The winner of this match will claim their first ATP title of the year; for Rublev, a 17th career title and for Draper his third.
👉 Click here for the complete Doha bracket.
Draper gets full-time media coverage in his home country, but he still manages to fly under the radar at his best events. That’s what happened when he snuck into the semifinals with little fanfare at the US Open last summer, and it’s what has happened this week in Doha, where he has made his first final of 2025.
Draper didn’t get here by upsetting anyone; he hasn’t faced a seed yet. Instead, he got here by beating the guys who pulled the upsets. Matteo Berrettini defeated Novak Djokovic, and Jiri Lehecka beat Carlos Alcaraz, before Draper took them both out 6-3 in the third set. Draper is playing his first tournament since retiring with a hip injury at the Australian Open, so you might say his season is starting now.
Can he start it with his third career title? It will mean beating a guy he hasn’t beaten before. Rublev is 3-0 against the Brit, though Draper… —Steve Tignor
Read our full ATP Doha Final Preview: Andrey Rublev vs. Jack Draper
👉 Click here for more news on the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.
To win the match and the tournament, Rublev is -110 and Draper is -115.
(Odds from BetMGM as of 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, February 21)
👉 Click here for more betting coverage on TENNIS.com.
Can Draper cap his under-the-radar run with a third career title, or will a resurgent Rublev power through?
Published Feb 21, 2025
Draper gets full-time media coverage in his home country, but he still manages to fly under the radar at his best events. That’s what happened when he snuck into the semifinals with little fanfare at the US Open last summer, and it’s what has happened this week in Doha, where he has made his first final of 2025.
Draper didn’t get here by upsetting anyone; he hasn’t faced a seed yet. Instead, he got here by beating the guys who pulled the upsets. Matteo Berrettini defeated Novak Djokovic, and Jiri Lehecka beat Carlos Alcaraz, before Draper took them both out 6-3 in the third set. Draper is playing his first tournament since retiring with a hip injury at the Australian Open, so you might say his season is starting now.
Read More: After Andy Murray’s retirement, British eyes turn to 23-year-old successor Jack Draper
Can he start it with his third career title? It will mean beating a guy he hasn’t beaten before. Rublev is 3-0 against the Brit, though Draper did take a set when they met in New York in 2023, and he pushed the Russian to 7-5 in the third when they played in Madrid in 2022.
Rublev is 3-0 against the Brit, though Draper did take a set when they last met in New York in 2023.
© Getty Images
Read More: Andrey Rublev ‘happy’ to have his level back with 10th ATP 500 final in Doha
Rublev has had an eventful week. He edged Alex De Minaur 10-8 in a third-set tiebreaker, but it took him eight match points to do it. Then he edged Felix Auger Aliassime 7-5 in a third-set tiebreaker, in a match that finished with a whirlwind of fast-paced play and go-for-broke shots.
Will all of this leave Rublev with little left in the tank? Or will it leave him feeling confident to the point of being bullet-proof? He’s 16-10 in finals, and we’ve seen him both thrive and fizzle on these types of stages in the past.
Rublev has the better head-to-head, he’s ranked higher, he has more experience in finals. But Draper has the difference-making shot, that hammering, hooking lefty serve. I’m going to say it will be enough. Winner: Draper
