Carlos Alcaraz crashes out of Qatar Open after shock defeat in quarter-final

Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shock Qatar Open exit after losing to Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals. The Czech player secured the biggest win of his career, shaking up the tournament with another major upset following Djokovic’s early elimination.

World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz suffered a shocking exit from the Qatar Open, losing to Costa Rica’s Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals on February 20. Despite mounting a comeback in the second set, Alcaraz could not complete the turnaround and ultimately fell 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in an intense contest.

The defeat marked a major upset in the tournament, especially following World No. 7 Novak Djokovic’s surprising fourth-round loss to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. With Alcaraz and Djokovic out of the competition, the title race has taken an unexpected turn. Lehecka will now face eighth-seeded Jack Draper of Great Britain in the semi-finals. Draper secured his place by defeating Berrettini in a hard-fought 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.

The match between Alcaraz and Lehecka was thrilling from the start, with the Czech player displaying remarkable composure under pressure. He fired eight aces and capitalized on four of eight break point opportunities, sealing the biggest win of his career. The loss marks a setback for Alcaraz, who was looking to regain top form after injury setbacks in previous tournaments.

Meanwhile, the tournament has continued to produce dramatic moments. Fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev edged out second-seeded Alex de Minaur in another three-set battle, winning 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(8). Rublev will now face Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, who advanced after fourth seed Daniil Medvedev was forced to retire due to food poisoning. Auger-Aliassime had taken the first set 6-3 before Medvedev withdrew, adding another unexpected twist to the event.

With the Qatar Open now missing its top-ranked stars, the focus shifts to the remaining players as they battle for the title. Lehecka’s victory over Alcaraz has shaken up the tournament, and the Czech rising star will look to carry his momentum into the semi-finals.