Alcaraz encouraged by Doha performance despite loss to Lehecka

Carlos Alcaraz still feels fine about his game after losing to Jiri Lehecka on Thursday in Doha. The Spaniard only had good things to say about his opponent.

Carlos Alcaraz at the 2023 Rolex Paris Masters (Chryslene Caillaud/Panoramic)

Ricky Dimon

February 21, 2025

Carlos Alcaraz was upset by Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Thursday evening.

Nonetheless, the Spaniard was far from discouraged.

“I’ve talked with my team, with my coach, and honestly I don’t know what I could have done better,” Alcaraz explained during his post-match press conference. “(There were) probably a few serves, a few points that probably I didn’t play [well]. Honestly, I don’t know. It was kind of a difficult feeling, I guess. I mean, I have to give credit to him, as well, because when he was down — especially in the third set — he didn’t give up.”

The four-time Grand Slam champion led 4-2 in the third set and had a break to take a commanding 5-2 advantage. But red-hot Lehecka managed to hold serve and from there he was off to the races.

I leave doha with the head up, with confidence.

Lehecka will face Jack Draper in the semis, while Alcaraz has some time off before heading to Indian Wells — where he is the two-time defending champion.

“I leave Doha with the head up,” the world No 3 assured, “with confidence, and really, really happy with everything that I’ve done here and how I felt here with my team. I’m going to come back next year.”

The loss is, however, a blow in battle for the No. 2 ranking with Alexander Zverev — and perhaps even for No. 1 with Jannik Sinner banned from tennis for three months. Zverev currently leads Alcaraz by 725 points.