Rising star Jiri Lehecka reaches first semifinal in Madrid

Félix Auger-Aliassime, Taylor Fritz and Andrey Rublev had already booked their places in the round of four and the World No. 31's surprise run through the rounds has now produced his best result at a Masters 1000 event and his sixth semi-final on tour.

Not happy with having sent Nadal packing two days ago, the young Czech has now had his way with one of the biggest names on tour. The fact that it was due to an injury takes nothing away from the work he has done over the last few months of competition.

The first set was progressing at a lightning pace, with just five games completed in the first 15 minutes and just three points won on the return. However, the battle of serves was soon interrupted by a medical time-out, requested by Medvedev when he was 3-2 ahead. After his return from the locker room, he looked uncomfortable as he tried to fend off Lehecka, but somehow managed to take the game to 40-30.

However, the pain was clearly not going away and two unforced errors on his own serve (one on the forehand and the other on the backhand) gifted his opponent two break points. Jiri pounced on his opportunity.

After Medvedev's double misstep, the match went with serve until the world No. 4 was unable to avoid another mishap in game nine, from which he never recovered. At 5-4 ahead, Lehecka was clinical as he sealed the set unchallenged (6-4). Daniil immediately tested himself with a sprint to his bench, where he decided to bring his participation at this year's Madrid Open to an end, along with his opportunity to rise to number 3 in the ATP Rankings on Monday.

Félix Auger-Aliassime will be Lehecka's next obstacle en route to the final. The Canadian is another player who has never lifted a title in the tour's highest category, and he comes into the match well-rested after the absence of Jannik Sinner from their quarter-final. The only previous clash between the two players came in the last sixteen of the Australian Open, where Lehecka came out on top 4-6 6-3 7-6(2) 7-6(3).

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