Jack Draper and Andrey Rublev will face off this Saturday in the ATP 500 Qatar Open final after defeating Jiri Lehecka and Felix Auger-Aliassime, respectively. The Russian leads their head-to-head 3-0, but with a confident Draper, anything is possible.
Draper aims for third career title
Jack Draper (No. 16) has defeated Alexei Popyrin (No. 27), Christopher O’Connell (No. 82), Matteo Berrettini (No. 32), and Jiri Lehecka (No. 25) on his way to the final, coming from a set down in his last two matches. In the semifinal against Lehecka, he won 88% of points on his first serve but struggled on his second (43%), largely due to Lehecka’s strong returns.
Draper faced physical issues during the pre-season and withdrew from the early tournaments of the year. He made his return at the Australian Open but was forced to retire in the fourth round against Carlos Alcaraz, which remains his only official loss of the season (7-1 record).
Jack Draper hits an INCREDIBLE shot against Jiri Lehecka in Doha.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) February 21, 2025
The most delicate drop shot he could’ve possibly hit.
Wow. 😮💨
pic.twitter.com/9OOwRojLrF
The Brit has long been considered one of the biggest talents on the Tour, and he is now proving himself as a serious contender for major titles. He reached the US Open semifinals last year and won his first two ATP titles in 2024 at the Stuttgart Open (ATP 250) and Vienna Open (ATP 500).
Can Rublev extend his dominance over Draper?
A fresh opportunity for Rublev in his first final of the year, as he looks to regain confidence this week. Against Alex de Minaur, he once again found himself in a tense battle but managed to come through. The Russian is seeking his 17th career title and sixth ATP 500 trophy.
Rublev suffered surprising early losses at the start of the season, falling to Joao Fonseca (No. 112 at the time) in the Australian Open first round and later to Alexander Kovacevic (No. 102) in France.
Rublev’s forehand? Pure wizardry. 🪄@AndreyRublev97 | @QatarTennis | #QatarExxonMobilOpen pic.twitter.com/HKREyaIh8N
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 21, 2025
This week in Doha, he has battled past Alexander Bublik (No. 48), Nuno Borges (No. 39), Alex de Minaur (No. 8), and Felix Auger-Aliassime (No. 23). Against the Canadian, Rublev astonishingly won 23 consecutive points on serve in the third set.
His recent matches have been emotionally charged. Against De Minaur, he squandered seven match points—several on his own serve—before finally sealing a win that seemed to be slipping away. Against Auger-Aliassime, he had to push through a thrilling tie-break but held his nerve to clinch the victory.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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