Auger-Aliassime sees off Lehecka to set up semi-final clash with Medvedev in Dubai

[p]Big servers have dominated on the speedy Dubai courts this week, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/auger-aliassime-felix/CzXh4LAb/"]Auger-Aliassime[/a] slammed down 16 aces [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/auger-aliassime-f-CzXh4LAb/lehecka-j-6PlgfXKR/?mid=C2iDeGY2"]in just under two hours[/a] - and was not broken once by his Czech opponent.[/p][p]The Canadian has been in superb form since reaching the US Open final towards the end of 2025, and captured the Montpellier title as well as reaching the Rotterdam final in just the last few weeks.[/p][embed guid="1fb83f3c-f3f7-49da-883d-72b187b48dd0" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02TPxQa_TNo" social-type="youtube" /][p]Runner-up in 2025, Auger-Aliassime will want to go one step further, which would also see him move up to sixth in the world rankings.[/p][p]Auger-Aliassime looked far more convincing on serve than [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lehecka-jiri/6PlgfXKR/"]Lehecka[/a], and towards the end of the first set, he capitalised on his constant pressure, capturing two consecutive breaks to take the opener.[/p][p]After fending off Lehecka's only two break points of the match in the first game of the second set, Auger-Aliassime continued to create chances, but failed to pounce on four break points in the eighth game.[/p][p]Lehecka managed to take it to a tiebreak, yet Auger-Aliassime proved too strong, getting over the line in fitting fashion with an ace.[/p][h2]Medvedev crushes Brooksby[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Medvedev[/a] made light work of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/brooksby-jenson/MoOtVkbN/"]Jenson Brooksby[/a], crushing the American [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/brooksby-j-MoOtVkbN/medvedev-d-O8qG0Nhb/?mid=j7oZQIJr"]6-2, 6-1[/a] with an excellent serving display to book his spot in the semi-finals.[/p][p]The third seed, who won the title back in 2023, served brilliantly throughout, making 83% of first serves and winning 77% of points when landing them.[/p][embed guid="df275b15-62a5-4d25-b6d3-c5a52ae27524" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2026979156605423914" social-type="twitter" /][p]Medvedev got off to a rapid start, breaking the American in the first game to put down an early marker. He then whizzed through his service games before getting another break towards the end of the set to take the opener.[/p][p]The second set was one-way traffic, as Medvedev broke three times to seal the win in just under an hour.[/p][p]Meanwhile, fellow Russian [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rublev-andrey/AeAn4gP0/"]Andrey Rublev[/a] also soared into the last four, cruising to a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/rinderknech-a-pIxZZsof/rublev-a-AeAn4gP0/?mid=SINoAHht"]6-2, 6-4[/a] victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rinderknech-arthur/pIxZZsof/"]Arthur Rinderknech[/a].[/p][p]The fifth seed will take on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/griekspoor-tallon/f3zfMU5i/"]Tallon Griekspoor[/a], who stunned 20-year-old [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mensik-jakub/UFj257G8/"]Jakub Mensik[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/griekspoor-t-f3zfMU5i/mensik-j-UFj257G8/?mid=x6bPjpal"]6-3, 3-6, 6-2.[/a][/p][embed guid="f10b47e1-1a96-41f8-95d0-b5f26fe1fafd" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kPgv5ykuz8" social-type="youtube" /]