Alcaraz, Sinner reach Qatar Open quarterfinals

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February 19, 2026
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19-February-2026

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.