Madrid tournament | Auger-Aliassime to face Lehecka in semi-final after Medvedev withdraws

(Madrid) World No.4 Daniil Medvedev, injured in the right thigh, retired after a set, thus opening the doors to the last four for the young Czech Jiri Lehecka (31^e) at the Masters 1000 in Madrid on Thursday.

Medvedev, treated for the first time off the court after only five games, and again massaged in the upper right thigh two games later, gave up after losing the first set 6-4 in around forty minutes. The 28-year-old Russian was clearly hampered in his movements and his support.

At 22, Lehecka appeared in the semi-finals of a Masters 1000 for the first time.

In the previous round, the robust Czech with a powerful serve – capable of exceeding 230 km/h – brought down Rafael Nadal, for the Spanish champion’s very last participation in the Madrid tournament.

For a place in the final, Lehecka will face the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime (35^e), who benefited from the withdrawal of world No.2 Jannik Sinner, with a sore right hip, on the eve of their quarter-final scheduled for Thursday.