Jack Draper Triumphs Over Jiri Lehecka to Secure Qatar Open Final Spot

British number one Jack Draper has secured his place in the Qatar Open final after a hard-fought victory over Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic. The match ended with scores of 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3, showcasing Draper's resilience and skill on the court.

Lehecka took an early lead by breaking Draper's serve in the eighth game of the first set. However, the second set was more evenly matched, eventually leading to a tie-break where Draper excelled with a near-flawless performance to level the match.

The decisive third set saw both players holding their serves until a crucial double fault from Lehecka gave Draper the break he needed. Frustration got the better of Lehecka, who threw his racket to the floor, while Draper capitalized on his second match point to secure the win.

"I thought in the first set I put in a sloppy game," Draper admitted post-match. "But I started to get a lead on his 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 recently reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, is set to face Andrey Rublev in the final. Rublev, currently ranked 10th in the world, defeated Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in a closely contested match with scores of 7-5 4-6 7-6 (7-5).

"I feel that I'm playing better and better week by week, I'm improving," Rublev commented after his victory. He has a perfect record in previous encounters with Draper, making the upcoming final an exciting prospect.

In the men's doubles, an all-British final is set after Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury overcame Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara with a score of 3-6 6-3 10-5. Earlier, another British pair, Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash, defeated Yuki Bhambri and Ivan Dodig 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

This marks the third ATP Tour final featuring two all-British teams, with all three involving at least one of the Skupski brothers.