Arthur Fils and Carlos Alcaraz Reach Qatar Open Final

Doha: Frenchman Arthur Fils (world No. 40) advanced to the final of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open (ATP 500) after defeating Czech Jakub Mensik (world No. 16) in the semi-finals on Centre Court at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, winning in straight sets 6-4, 7-6.Fils continued his impressive run in Doha despite having been sidelined for six months due to a back injury. He returned to competition just two weeks ago and has delivered strong performances that earned him a place in the 2026 Qatar ExxonMobil Open final.Meanwhile, Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 1, maintained his dominant form in Doha, dethroning defending champion Andrey Rublev with a 7-6, 6-4 victory in the semi-finals.Alcaraz had secured his semi-final berth on Thursday after defeating Russia’s Karen Khachanov, the 2024 champion, in three sets. With Friday’s win, he improved his head-to-head record against Rublev to six victories and one defeat on the ATP Tour.This marks Alcaraz’s first final appearance in Doha in his second consecutive participation, after exiting at the quarter-final stage last year following a 3-6, 6-3, 4-6 loss to Czech player Jiri Lehecka.Fils will now face Alcaraz in today’s final.In the doubles competition, Britain’s Henry Patten and Hungary’s Harri Heliovaara claimed the 2026 Qatar ExxonMobil Open doubles title (ATP 500).Patten and Heliovaara defeated defending champions Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash of Great Britain in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, in the final held on Centre Court at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.The winners were crowned by Mr. Tariq Zainal, Secretary General of the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel and Badminton Federation.Patten and Heliovaara delivered an outstanding performance throughout the tournament to earn the title after an impressive campaign. In the main draw, they defeated the Russian duo Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov 7-5, 6-3. In the quarter-finals, they overcame Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas and Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 7-6, 7-6. They then beat the Italian pair Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli 7-6, 6-4 in the semi-finals, before sealing the title with victory in the final to lift the Qatar ExxonMobil Open trophy for the first time in their careers.

Brash and Hello Jefferson continue golden run at CHI Al Shaqab

Doha: Britain’s Scott Brash and his evergreen partner Hello Jefferson extended their flawless run on the second day of the 13th edition of CHI Al Shaqab, producing another commanding performance to win the CSI5* 1.55m jump-off class at Al Shaqab’s Longines Arena on Thursday.Fresh from victory in Wednesday’s 1.50m CSI5* competition, the celebrated duo once again proved unbeatable, underlining their remarkable consistency as one of the sport’s most successful partnerships.Following a competitive first round that featured 37 combinations, eleven riders progressed to the jump-off over Italian course designer Uliano Vezzani’s demanding track, with ten returning for the decisive round.Brash guided the 17-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding to a brilliant fault-free round in 39.93 seconds, finishing just under a second clear of Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher aboard Vestmalle des Cotis, who stopped the clock in 40.82 seconds. Brazil’s Santiago Lambre secured third place with Zeusz after another double-clear effort in 40.86 seconds.“Jefferson was incredible yet again,” Brash said after sealing his second consecutive victory of the week. “He has such an amazing career now. He is 17 years old and probably in the form of his life. The whole team behind him keeps him in top shape.”Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Alrajhi finished fourth riding Lorenzo ES, narrowly ahead of Portugal’s Duarte Seabra on Dourados 2, while Belgium’s Niels Bruynseels also impressed by qualifying for the jump-off and eventually placing 10th with Oaky Flandria.Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano emerged as another standout performer, securing victories in both CSI5* and CSI3* competition. In the CSI5* 145cm Table C (LR-D) class, speed proved decisive as Gaudiano piloted Julius.D to victory in 59.76 seconds. Britain’s Millie Allen followed in second with Quick Diamant HR (60.80s), while American rider Kristen Vanderveen placed third aboard Bull Run’s Amen (62.33s).Gaudiano later returned to the arena to win the CSI3* 140cm Faults and Time class with Diarouge Blue PS, narrowly edging Egypt’s Ismail Osama El Borai and Gin Lady Tivoli Z by just 0.12 seconds. Qatar’s Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi completed the podium riding Isis, drawing strong home support.Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Al Hadi claimed top honours in the CSI3* 130cm Faults and Time competition with a fluent clear round aboard Capoen in 59.42 seconds. Egypt dominated the remaining podium places through Abdallah Haitham on Consagros and Seif Eldin Essam Abbas riding Heathcliff Blue.In the CSI1* 110cm Special Two-Phase event, Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah of Saudi Arabia delivered the fastest double-clear performance with Erosa (25.36s). Qatar’s Abdullah bin Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani secured second with Cassandra 352, while Egypt’s Fatima Mohanad Alkishawi finished third riding Ippocampo de Maor.Young Qatari riders featured strongly in the CSICh-B 105cm class, where Abdullah bin Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani guided Let It Be des Hurlevents to victory ahead of compatriot Abdulla Ahmed al-Khulaifi on Quenta van de Corsendonksehoeve. Sheikh Nasser Hamad al-Thani completed an all-Qatari podium aboard Equinoxe de l'Aulne.The para dressage programme showcased high technical standards across all CPEDI3* Grand Prix A grades. Brazil’s Luiz Felipe Queiroz Menin topped Grade I aboard Ocaso Do Luar, while USA rider Fiona Howard produced the leading performance in Grade II with Ferguston (73.506). Italy’s Francesca Salvade won Grade III with Escari, and the Netherlands’ Sandra Jeuken secured Grade IV honours riding Nespresso. Sweden’s Lena Malmström claimed victory in Grade V aboard Fabulous Fidelie.Qatar celebrated further success in the CDI1* Prix St-Georges, where Jassim al-Kuwari and Jack Sparrow delivered a winning score of 69.608 ahead of compatriot Wejdan Majed al-Malki and Maryam Ahmad al-Boinin. 

Brash, Tryba make winning starts at CHI Al Shaqab Presented by Longines

Doha: British rider Scott Brash claimed the CSI5* - Faults & Time - 1.50m event honours as the 13th edition of CHI Al Shaqab Presented by Longines Doha 2026 international equestrian championship swung into action at Al Shaqab on Wednesday evening. The event is the sixth leg of the Doha Equestrian Tour 2026 and boasts of a wide international field.Brash excelled in the feature event of the opening day of the four-day championship riding his trusted mount Hello Jefferson, clocking the best time of 64.10secs. German Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann on Iron Dames High Level was second (67.19secs).Brazil’s Marlon Modolo Zanotelli on Charly Heart and France’s Megane Moissonnier on Qoup de Coeur de Muze shared third place with 67.76 secs.France’s Lara Tryba topped the CSI5* - Two Phases - 1.40m class astride Flash de Talma with flawless best times of 48.80 and 27.94secs.Qatar rider Salman Mohammed Al Emadi finished second riding Wathnan Toblerone clocking 51.83 and 28.32secs in the two phases with clear rounds. Turkiye’s Hasan Senturk on Quinti Von Hof took the third podium spot (50.60 & 28.52secs).The CSI3* - Two Phases - 1.40m class was claimed by Turkiye’s Hasan Senturk astride Diams Brimbelles Z clocking 50.28 and 27.37secs. Qatar’s Sultan Salem Al Naemi came second on Energika des Neyes with 50.62 and 27.97secs while Austria’s Max Kuhner was third riding Eic Up Too Jacco Blue (48.04 & 28.16secs).Jordan’s Ibarhim Hani Bishart topped the CSI* - Special Two-Phase - 1.35m event with Corona Irw in 334.89secs and 33.35secs. France’s Jean Francois Rondoux on Inter-Larus was second - 37.83 and 35.43secs while Bahrain’s Hussain Mohamed Dadalla finished third on Elite with times of 36.78 and 35.63secs.The CSI1* - Faults & Time - 1.20m event was won by Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Almutawaa, who rode Inouie du Nenuphar, clocking the best time of 58.08secs. His compatriot Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah was second on F’Un Chassagne in 58.54secs while Egypt’s Fatima Mohanad Alkishawi on Quintalou was third (58.96secs).With a total prize purse exceeding €1.3 million, the championship features 303 riders and 469 horses representing 40 countries, competing in three Olympic disciplines: showjumping, dressage, and para-dressage.Mohammed Jaber Al Khayarin, Deputy Tournament Director, affirmed that the event continues to solidify its position as one of the most prominent international events on the global equestrian calendar. “We are proud to launch a new edition of the Al Shaqab International Championship amidst this large international presence of riders and horses. This reflects the growing confidence in Qatari organization and Al Shaqab’s ability to deliver a championship of the highest international standards. This year, we have ensured the highest levels of technical and logistical readiness to guarantee an outstanding competitive experience for all participants,” he said.CHI Al Shaqab continued on Thursday with 12 diverse classes across various categories, headlined by the Grand Prix in the three-star para-dressage category.Friday will see action in the CSI5* - Faults & Time - 1.50m, the exciting CSI3* - Jump & Drive - 1.30m class, CSICh-B - 1.10 m - Jump Off - Group VII series qualifier, the CDI1* Intermediate I Freestyle - in dressage and the CDI5* Soundcheck, among more other categories.Saturday will see finals across disciplines: the CDI5* Grand Prix Special, the CPEDI3* Para Grand Prix Freestyle*, and the CDI5* CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix Freestyle presented by Longines. In show jumping, the day culminates in three Grand Prix showdowns: CSI1* Grand Prix 1.30m (Jump-Off), CSI3* Grand Prix 1.50m (Jump-Off), and the feature class CSI5* CHI Al Shaqab Grand Prix presented by Longines 1.60m (Jump-Off).CHI Al Shaqab is partnered by Hamad Medical Corporation as the official medical partner, Aspetar Hospital as official sports medicine partner, EFMC as official veterinary partner, Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana as official transportation partner, Al Kass Sports Channels as official broadcaster, Msheireb Properties as the official sponsor, Prime Power as the complementary partner, and Education Above All as official humanitarian partner.

Alcaraz and Rublev Advance to Qatar ExxonMobil Open Semi-Finals

Doha: Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, world No. 1 and top seed, advanced to the semi-finals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open (ATP 500) after defeating Russia’s Karen Khachanov, the 2024 champion, in three sets on Thursday in the quarter-finals.Alcaraz staged a comeback after dropping the opening set 6-7, rallying to claim the next two sets 6-4, 6-3 in a match that lasted two hours and 27 minutes on Centre Court at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.The victory marked Alcaraz’s sixth win over Khachanov in their head-to-head meetings.This is the Spanish star’s second appearance in Doha, having exited at the quarter-final stage last year following a 3-6, 6-3, 4-6 defeat to Czech player Jiri Lehecka.The 22-year-old, who has won 25 career titles including seven Grand Slams—most recently the 2026 Australian Open—now aims to secure his first Doha title. He will face defending champion and fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the semi-finals after the Russian defeated Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6.Frenchman Arthur Fils also advanced to the semi-finals after overcoming eighth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-3.Fils, ranked 40th in the world and returning from a six-month absence due to a back injury, made his comeback two weeks ago and reached the last four with his victory over the world No. 22.Meanwhile, world No. 2 Jannik Sinner was eliminated from the tournament following a three-set defeat to Czech 16th seed Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals.Sinner, 24, a four-time Grand Slam champion with 24 career titles, was unable to continue his run after Mensik secured the win 7-6, 2-6, 6-3.Mensik will now face Arthur Fils in Friday’s semi-finals.In the doubles competition, British duo Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, the defending champions, advanced to the final after defeating French pair Quentin Halys and Pierre-Hugues Herbert in straight sets.Cash and Glasspool controlled the semi-final, winning 6-3, 6-2, to set up a final clash against Britain’s Henry Patten and Finland’s Harri Heliovaara, who earlier defeated Italian duo Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli 7-5, 6-4.Cash and Glasspool are aiming to retain the Doha title they won last year after defeating compatriots Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 6-3, 6-2 in the final.

Alcaraz, Sinner reach Qatar Open quarterfinals

Doha: Carlos Alcaraz roused a big finish to secure progress in straight sets while Jannik Sinner got the better of Alexi Popyrin in top two matches of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Wednesday under lights.World number one Alcaraz overcame Valentin Royer 6-2, 7-5 to seal his quarter-final spot. The Spaniard reeled off five consecutive games from 2-5 in the second set, raising his level in typically classy fashion to round out a 96-minute second-round triumph.“Obviously I had to be prepared for everything,” said Alcaraz, when asked if he ever doubted he could secure the win in straight sets even at 2-5. “There were some moments when I thought about a third set, I’m not going to lie, but obviously it was just a small place in my mind that was thinking that. The rest was working to find solutions, to find the right way again.“I’m just really pleased and really happy I was able to find good rhythm again, and good tennis. It’s just about fighting. I know tennis. It’s just about one point, and sometimes it is really difficult to close out the set or the match. I just had to stay there, and I’m happy I turned it around and got the win in straight sets.”Now on a nine-match winning streak after backing up his Australian Open title run by reaching the quarter-finals in Doha, Alcaraz will on Thursday take on Karen Khachanov for a last-four spot.The seventh-seeded Khachanov, who downed Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 earlier on Wednesday, was the 2024 champion in the Qatari capital.Alcaraz is now on a 27-match winning streak on outdoor hard courts, dating back to his title run at the Cincinnati Open last August. The 22-year-old is chasing his maiden trophy in Doha, where he fell at the quarter-final stage to Jiri Lehecka on event debut a year ago.Earlier, Sinner’s debut run in Doha gathered pace when the Italian secured a composed 6-3, 7-5 victory over Popyrin.The second seed had to work hard during his 85-minute triumph, but absorbed a barrage of big serves and blistering winners to reach the quarter-finals at the Qatari ATP 500.Sinner also extended his streak to 50 consecutive wins against players outside the Top 50 in the ATP Rankings — a run stretching back to his loss to Dusan Lajovic in Cincinnati in 2023.“I respect every player, but I always try to play my best tennis,” Sinner said when told of his streak against Top 50 players. “The ranking, at the end of the day, is just a number. Everyone is playing high quality. Especially when the opponents don’t have much to lose, you always have to stay very focused.”Australian Popyrin fired 16 total winners and thrilled the crowd in a tightly contested set but Sinner kept his composure to advance on debut.“I feel like I started off very well in the first set, not so many problems with my service games,” said Sinner, who did not face a break point. But after I struggled a bit. I felt like he raised his level and I lost a bit of rhythm and confidence. I just tried to dig deep… I’m very happy. You have to find different ways to win matches.”Sinner is competing in his first tournament since his painful five-set semi-final defeat to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open and is targeting a third straight ATP 500 title after lifting trophies in Beijing and Vienna in October.A championship-match clash against Alcaraz is a possibility, which will be the 17th chapter of their rapidly developing rivalry.Before then, however, the Italian must negotiate a last-eight meeting with sixth seed and 2024 finalist Jakub Mensik, who advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Zhang Zhizhen. The 20-year-old continues his upward surge after winning the Brisbane title in January, climbing three spots to No. 13 in the rankings — surpassing his previous career high of No. 16.Elsewhere in Sinner’s section of the draw are Jiri Lehecka and Arthur Fils, who both advanced on Wednesday to set a quarter-final meeting in Doha. Lehecka, who last year beat Alcaraz en route to the semi-finals, eased past Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-1, while Fils prevailed 6-1, 7-6(7) over countryman Quentin Halys. 

CHI Al Shaqab 2026 gets underway

Doha: The 13th edition of the CHI Al Shaqab International Equestrian Competition, presented by Longines, officially got underway yesterday at Al Shaqab. The event marks the sixth leg of the Doha Equestrian Tour 2026 and has attracted a strong international field, underscoring its prominent status on the global equestrian calendar.The championship features the participation of 303 riders and 469 horses representing 40 countries. Competitors are contesting three main disciplines: showjumping, dressage, and para-dressage. With total prize money exceeding €1.3 million, the event further strengthens its position as one of the most significant international fixtures of the season.Competition on the opening day, which launches four consecutive days of action, proved intense. In the CSI3* showjumping class (130cm, two rounds), Jordan’s Ibrahim Hani Bisharat claimed first place aboard *Corona RW*, prevailing in a strong field of more than 48 riders at the Longines Indoor Arena. France’s Jean-François Rondeau secured second place with *Inter La Rose*, while Bahrain’s Hussein Mohammed finished third riding *Elite*.In the CSI5* showjumping class (140cm, two rounds), staged at the Longines Outdoor Arena with the participation of 58 riders, France’s Lara Tryba topped the standings aboard *Flash de Talma*. Qatar’s Salman Mohammed Al Emadi finished second with *Wathnan Toublerone*, and Türkiye’s Hasan Senturk placed third riding *Quinti von Hof*.Meanwhile, in the one-star class held at 120cm, Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Al Mutawa clinched first place aboard *Enoue de Nénufar*, clocking 58.08 seconds. His compatriot Abdullah Ibrahim Abdullah took second place with *Von Chasania* in 58.54 seconds, while Egypt’s Fatma Mohand El Keshawy finished third aboard *Quintalo* in 58.96 seconds.Action continues today with 12 classes scheduled across various categories, highlighted by the three-star Grand Prix in para-dressage.The championship is organized by Al Shaqab in cooperation with the Qatar Equestrian Federation and the Qatar Olympic Committee, in partnership with Longines as Title Partner, ExxonMobil and Qatar Tourism as Main Sponsors, and Qatar Airways as the Official Airline Partner.