Alcaraz and Rublev Advance to Qatar ExxonMobil Open Semi-Finals

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February 20, 2026
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20-February-2026

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.