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Qualifier Jiri Lehecka continued his dream run on Friday as he beat rising Italian star Lorenzo Musetti to progress into the Rotterdam semifinal. Lehecka, who is enjoying a career-high ranking of No. 137 in the world, surprised world No.
63 Musetti 6-3 1-6 7-5 to reach his maiden ATP semifinal. Lehecka, 20, made it past the Rotterdam qualifying to earn a chance to play in his first ATP main draw. Lehecka is now two wins away from winning his maiden ATP title in his first ATP tournament.
Lehecka faces next No. 1 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and he is in great spirits ahead of the match. “[It is an] incredible feeling,” Lehecka said after beating Musetti, per the ATP website. “The things I am achieving here are incredible.
This is the big stage and I am happy I can be here and play these matches. Today it was another tough match against an incredibly tough opponent. I will now try and rest ahead of tomorrow and we will see”.
Lehecka edged out Musetti
The first break point of the match was seen in the eighth game, when Lehecka broke Musetti to take a 5-3 lead.
Lehecka then routinely served out for the opener in the following game. Lehecka pressured Musetti's serve early on in the second set but the Italian saved five break points in the opening game. After saving five break points in the opening game of the second set, Musetti broke Lehecka in the fourth and sixth games to win the set and force a decider.
Musetti then started the third set with a break but Lehecka kept his focus as he broke back the Italian in the fourth game. No breaks were then seen until the 12th game, when Lehecka broka Musetti to seal a three-set win.
Lehecka stunned Denis Shapovalov in the first round and he will be aiming to clinch another upset win when he faces Tsitsipas in the semifinal. It remains to be seen if Lehecka can stun Tsitsipas and continue his dream run in Rotterdam.