Andy Murray snatched victory from the jaws of defeat after churning out another sensational comeback win, saving five match points, to beat Jiri Lehecka and thus reach the final in Doha for the fifth time in history, to the admiration of the overwhelming crowd yesterday.

The 2008 and 2009 champion will be up against world No. 8 Daniil Medvedev, who knocked out Felix Auger-Aliassime, the second seed, 6-4, 7-6 (6), in one hour and 57 minutes in the other last-four clash, in today’s final.

Murray, who is on the verge of joining Roger Federer as the only three-time champion in Doha, beat the 21-year-old Lehecka, ranked 52, 6-0, 3-6, 7-6(6) in yet another grueling encounter that lasted two and a half hours.

Murray saved two match points on his own serve and three as Lehecka served for the match before somehow rallying to win the deciding tie-break. It was the first-ever encounter between the two players.

“I don’t know – that was one of the most amazing turnarounds I’ve had in my career. I have no idea how I managed to turn that one around, to be honest. I will enjoy this evening and hopefully put on a good performance tomorrow,” the three-time Grand Slam winner said in his post-match interview.

Murray, ranked 70th, will be hoping to post a first-time victory over Medvedev in today’s encounter.

Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, has a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over the two-time Olympic gold medalist, having beaten the 35-year-old first in the Round of 16 at the 2019 Brisbane International and then at last year’s ATP Masters 1000 in Miami.