Jiri Lehecka is on fire at the moment! He recently clinched the first Top 3 win of his career and is now all set to fight for a place in the final of the 2025 Qatar Open. He will face Jack Draper (GBR) in the semis. Speaking ahead of the match, the Czech star said, “I am confident I can bring even more tomorrow and I will try my best.” Beating Draper on this surface won’t be easy. Shortly after clinching victory in his QF match, the Brit highlighted that he has been getting his “confidence back.” So who will win this battle of the two 23-year-old rising stars in the world?

Jack Draper vs Jiri Lehecka: Preview

Jack Draper hasn’t played much in this season so far. However, he has looked quite impressive in Doha. Draper defeated the in-form Italian, Matteo Berrettini in the QF match by 4-6,6-4,6-3. His incredible comeback in that match has now put him on the list of real contenders in this mega event, but can he overcome the Czech hurdle in the SF?

Jiri Lehecka has already won a title this season and he will enter this semifinal following his impressive performance against the world number 3 in the previous match. Lehecka defeated the Spanish star, Carlos Alcaraz by 6-3,3-6,6-4 in the QF. Can the Czech keep his winning run intact by defeating yet another higher-ranked opponent at the 2025 Qatar Open?

Draper vs Lehecka: Head-to-Head

Jack Draper and Jiri Lehecka have crossed paths against each other twice in their careers so far. However, currently, their H2H record is well-poised at 1-1. Who will take the lead by winning their third encounter?

• 2024 ATP Masters 1000 Paris R64: Draper 7-5,6-2.
• 2024 Adelaide Final: Lehecka 4-6,6-4,6-3.

Prediction: Lehecka to win in three sets

The ‘Giant-Slayer’ Jiri Lehecka is the favorite to win this contest! Apart from beating Alcaraz in the previous round, we must not forget that he defeated the former world number 3, Grigor Dimitrov in the very first round. So, he had to overcome quite a few big hurdles to reach this stage. And since he has already won a title this season, his confidence will be sky-high. On top of that, Lehecka reached the SF in Qatar in the 2023 season. So he has fond memories of the place.

If we take a look at the stats, Draper (16) has a win-loss record of 6-2 this season, while it’s 8-3 for Lehecka (25) at the moment. Now, talking about their playing styles, Jiri Lehecka is one of the cleanest hitters on the Tour. He can hit big from both sides and his lightning forehand is also one of his biggest weapons. His aggressive baseline play has put several players in trouble in the recent past and apart from that, he also has a strong backhand which can do the damage at any point in the matches. Draper needs to be extremely watchful of the strengths of this Czech star.

Talking about Draper, he loves playing a fearless brand of tennis. He’s a natural right-hander but plays with his left hand, essentially making him a “switch-hitter” in tennis. Incredible talent! His strong baseline game, at times, puts him in favorable positions during his matches. Apart from that, Lehecka also needs to watch out for Draper’s powerful serves and impeccable backhands.

However, if Draper fails to get a grip on this match right from the start, it might get difficult for him to seal the victory against the in-form Czech. Jiri Lehecka’s confidence level is at its peak at the moment and he has an upper hand moving into this semifinal. The prediction is for Lehecka to win the match in three sets.