Murray fought another big battle in this ATP 250 tournament on hard court during which he dismissed five match points.

The former world number one reached his first final on the ATP circuit since Stuttgart last June.

The last of his 46 titles dates back to the Antwerp tournament in 2019.

Faced with Lehecka, Murray confirmed the excellent level he has displayed since the start of the week, he who won against Alexander Zverev on Wednesday in the second round.

He also reassures on his physical level since it is his fourth victory in three sets during this tournament.

Dominant in the first round, the 35-year-old Scotsman then suffered the onslaught of his powerful opponent, much stronger than at the start of the match.

In the final set, Lehecka seemed to have the game in hand.

Led 5-3, Murray first saved two match points on his serve to come back to 5-4.

In the next game, the Czech, on his serve, broke away 40-0, three new match points, all dismissed by the Scotsman who ended up winning by winning the tie-break (8 points to 6) .

This victory will allow the double winner of Wimbledon (2013 and 2016) to get closer to the Top 50 in the world rankings that the ATP will formalize on Monday.

Medvedev, the second seed of this tournament, was more expeditious against Augier-Aliassime even if he was hooked in the second set which he ended up winning after a tight tie-break (9-7) during which the Canadian had three opportunities to come back to one set everywhere.

The Canadian player multiplied the unforced errors (26), the two players competing in terms of aces (6 to Medvedev for 5 to Aliassime).

Winner in Rotterdam last week, the 27-year-old former world No.1 hopes, with another victory on Saturday, to celebrate his return to the top 10 in the world after a timid start to the season.

"He's a legend and he's playing better and better," said Andy Murray of his future opponent, the Russian Daniil Medvedev, who won his ticket to the final of the Doha tournament against the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime on 24 February 2023 © KARIM JAAFAR / AFP/Archives

Medvedev has won his two previous meetings against Murray, one in Brisbane in 2019 and the other in Miami in 2022.

"He's a legend and he's playing better and better," said the Russian.

"It's fantastic to watch and I'm very happy to face him tomorrow (Saturday)."

© 2023 AFP