Murray saves five match-points in Qatar Open semi-finals

Of the six wins on the ATP Tour this season, Murray needs a decisive set. Three of them had to save match-points, including the first round of the Australian Open against Matteo Berrettini and two at the Qatar Open, against Lorenzo Sonego and Jiri Lehecka.

In the semi-final in Doha on February 24, Murray came upstream and was led 3-5 in the third set. He saved two match-points to keep the serve game and shortened the score to 4-5. After that, Lehecka won three straight points and led 40-0 in the next game. In a corner, Murray scored three points straight from the double ball series, to save three match-points.

Murray then won the catch game to equalize 5-5, before the last set went into a tie-break. There, the British tennis player won 8-6 to reach the final. Murray's opponent in the final match was Daniil Medvedev, who beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-6(6).

"I don't know why I beat him," Murray said after the match. "This is the most spectacular comeback of my career." Fitness will be an issue for Murray, because in all four games in Doha, he has to fight three sets. Since October 11, the 35-year-old has never won a match without losing at least a set.

For the first time since 2019, Murray has reached an ATP Tour final. He has reached the Qatar Open final four times, winning two (2008, 2009) and losing two. The owner of three Grand Slams has met Medvedev twice and lost both.

At the ATP 500 Rio Open, world number two Carlos Alcaraz entered the semi-finals, after defeating Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 7-6(0). In both sets, Alcaraz was trailing 2-4 before winning backwards. In the semi-finals, the Spaniard met Nicolas Jarry or Sebastian Baez. Alcaraz will level the score with world number one Novak Djokovic if he holds the Rio Open title.