DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Andy Murray saved five match points to defeat Jiri Lehecka 6-0, 3-6, 7-6(6) and advanced to the Qatar Open final on Friday.
The 35-year-old Briton has reached his first ATP Tour final since June and will face Daniil Medvedev, the former world number one.
“He’s a legend,” Medvedev said of Murray. “Today it was just amazing the way he won.”
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion who underwent two hip surgeries, recovered from a 5-3 deficit in the deciding set. She saved two match points on her serve and three more when her Czech opponent served with a chance to win the match.
“It was one of the most amazing cartwheels I’ve ever had in my career,” Murray said during the on-court interview. “I have no idea how I handled it, to be honest.”
Medvedev defeated second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime for the second time in as many weeks, this time 6-4, 7-6(7). The Russian also won in straight sets last week in the quarter-finals in Rotterdam.
“Confidence matters, because (Auger-Aliassime) had (three) set points. I managed to stay there and that was enough to win,” admitted Medvedev.