World No. 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime is set to take on 2021 US Open winner Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals of the ongoing Qatar Open at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha on Friday.
The Togolese-Canadian overcame Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in straight sets at the center court on Thursday, while Medvedev defeated Australia’s Christopher O’Connell 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 in a much tougher encounter that took one-hour, 55-minute.
SF 🔒@felixtennis battles past Davidovich Fokina 6-4 7-6(5) to move on in Doha!@QatarTennis | #qemo2023 pic.twitter.com/izjH7VO6YO
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 23, 2023
In his match against the seventh-seeded Spaniard, second seed Auger-Aliassime had eight aces and won 21 receiving points as he edged his opponent in one hour 48 minutes as he improves to 3-0 against Davidovich Fokina, and 7-3 on the season to reach his 24th career ATP semi-final.
He will face third seed Medvedev, who he is winless against in five previous attempts, including last week’s loss in the quarterfinals of the Rotterdam Open.
MACHINE 🫡@DaniilMedwed wins an entertaining contest 6-2 4-6 7-5 against O’Connell ⚡️#qemo2023 pic.twitter.com/H2G7DwQAzm
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 23, 2023
In the other semifinal, former British No. 1 Andy Murray will face Jiri Lehecka. The 35-year-old defeated France’s Alexandre Muller 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, while Czech’s Lehecka shocked top seed Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Murray making moves 🙌@andy_murray takes his place at the semi-finals in Doha with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 win against Muller 💫@qatartennis | #Qemo2023 pic.twitter.com/lpLaNvV75j
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 23, 2023
