ATP500 Qatar Open 2026

Who wins?

  • Carlos Alcaraz

    Votes: 11 61.1%

  • Jannik Sinner

    Votes: 7 38.9%

  • FAA

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Alexander Bublik

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Daniil Medvedev

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Andrey Rublev

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Jakub Mensik

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Karen Khachanov

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Jiri Lehecka

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Other

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    18
  • Poll closed .
Rattie said:
Not against Rinderknech he can’t….and didn’t.
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True man. Dude needed to stay focused and fend off AR's excellent efforts. Pleased that Carlitos took it in straights.

Tomorrow should be interesting with some potentially good contests, including Fils / Halys; Marozsan / Rublev; Mensik / Zhang. Anticipate that Jannik and Carlitos will get through ....... let's see.
 
Doha thus far continuing the 2026 theme of results running according to ranking to an unprecedented degree (see: all of top 6 seeds in AO QF, all of top 4 seeds in AO SF, all three finals last week being #1 seed v #2 seed, and coming within one point of all three being won by #1 seed):

- No seed lost in R1, though Bublik did drop out and was replaced by a lucky loser, Halys.
- Seeds #7 and 8 (Khachanov and Lehecka) the first two quarter-finalists.

By contrast, Rio is emphatically diverging from this theme, with only three seeds making it through the first round (#1 Cerundolo, #3 Fonseca, #8 Etcheverry), alongside three lucky losers.
 
Fils takes out LL Halys in the second round, and plays Lehecka (!) next.
Should be a good test.
 
Last edited:
Carlos is clearly trying some shots he normally wouldn't because he's super relaxed after winning career slam. He's over the moon right now. I hope he doesn't suffer from Icarus Syndrome.
 
Apart from winning a deciding set, there is nothing more fun than coming back from a break down to win in straight sets (y)
I'm grateful for Alcaraz making it interesting (y)
In fact many deciding sets are very lopsided, so in a way this straight sets win was more fun than a deciding set (y)
 
N
ALCARAZWON said:
Apart from winning a deciding set, there is nothing more fun than coming back from a break down to win in straight sets (y)
I'm grateful for Alcaraz making it interesting (y)
In fact many deciding sets are very lopsided, so in a way this straight sets win was more fun than a deciding set (y)
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Royer fluked the break getting a dead net cord on break point. A few loose shots cost Alcaraz in that game. Great play from Royer to go 5-2 up in set 2 though resulting in Alcaraz getting extremely frustrated with himself. Royer has plenty of firepower and a good return.
However, from 2-5, Alcaraz just locked down, raised his level and ran off 5 games to take the match.
 
Rattie said:
N

Royer fluked the break getting a dead net cord on break point. A few loose shots cost Alcaraz in that game. Great play from Royer to go 5-2 up in set 2 though resulting in Alcaraz getting extremely frustrated with himself. Royer has plenty of firepower and a good return.
However, from 2-5, Alcaraz just locked down, raised his level and ran off 5 games to take the match.
Click to expand...
The first point of the 2nd Set was insanely athletic and skillful, Alcaraz is getting some excellent practice ahead of a potential meeting with Sinner (y)
Yep for Royer to go up 3-1, the deadest cord ever :cautious:
Loved Alcaraz's low-wide lunge volley to hold serve for 3-5 in 2nd Set :D
7EfakwU.gif
 
Last edited:
Rattie said:
..... Royer fluked the break getting a dead net cord on break point. A few loose shots cost Alcaraz in that game. Great play from Royer to go 5-2 up in set 2 though resulting in Alcaraz getting extremely frustrated with himself. Royer has plenty of firepower and a good return.
However, from 2-5, Alcaraz just locked down, raised his level and ran off 5 games to take the match.
Click to expand...
Well summarised, man. Liked Royer's attacking game and confident attitude - dude should do well if he can sustain it. Gave Carlitos something to think about for sure. That said, what a superb effort by Carlitos to take the momentum when needed and effectively cut the roots from under Royer's feet. Good workout, hopefully honing him for the business end of proceedings.

Popyrin put up a good contest too, handled in straights by Jannik. Good to see Fils enjoying a good run and Tsitsipas finding some form again. Looking forward to the qf's.
 
ALCARAZWON said:
The first point of the 2nd Set was insanely athletic and skillful, Alcaraz is getting some excellent practice ahead of a potential meeting with Sinner (y)
Yep for Royer to go up 3-1, the deadest cord ever :cautious:
Loved Alcaraz's low lunge volley to hold serve for 3-5 in 2nd Set :D
vWstC0Y.jpg
Click to expand...
Yeah, incredible volley. Can’t view that in my country but it’s on X too
https://twitter.com/x/status/2024212350698508513
 
Rattie said:
N

Royer fluked the break getting a dead net cord on break point. A few loose shots cost Alcaraz in that game. Great play from Royer to go 5-2 up in set 2 though resulting in Alcaraz getting extremely frustrated with himself. Royer has plenty of firepower and a good return.
However, from 2-5, Alcaraz just locked down, raised his level and ran off 5 games to take the match.
Click to expand...
Royer actually played very well, he really made Carlos earn it which will serve him well the rest of the tournament.

I know he wants to win all the matches but this is gravy for Carlos right now which is the best spot to be as a tennis player, avenging the Wimbledon defeat at the US Open and getting the career slam in Australia has to be extremely gratifying for him. Of course he has many more things to accomplish and he's an ultra competitor but you'd have to think that a huge weight was lifted after winning the AO.
 
NYTennisfan said:
Royer actually played very well, he really made Carlos earn it which will serve him well the rest of the tournament.

I know he wants to win all the matches but this is gravy for Carlos right now which is the best spot to be as a tennis player, avenging the Wimbledon defeat at the US Open and getting the career slam in Australia has to be extremely gratifying for him. Of course he has many more things to accomplish and he's an ultra competitor but you'd have to think that a huge weight was lifted after winning the AO.
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I agree. He’s pretty new to the tour but he upset some much higher ranked players last year. He’s on the rise it seems.
 
Rublev was a nightmare at Cincinnati last year. Khachanov and Rublev back2back is a total grindfest, but also powerfest.
 
Why do some Russian players have bad second serves (as top 20 players and relative to their good first serves) like really weak kick serves? Bublik, Medvedev, and Rublev
 
EddieChang said:
Why do some Russian players have bad second serves (as top 20 players and relative to their good first serves) like really weak kick serves? Bublik, Medvedev, and Rublev
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Maybe the excessive vodka makes them dizzy and serving needs balance more than any other shot.
Just a guess, but I've never been to Russia, so the Russian fans can give more input about other things that Russians like that would impact the serve.
 
Nice win for Rublev. Increases the pressure on Tsitsipas to do well in the defense of his Dubai title. Even with the showing this week, I believe that Tsitsipas could drop to around #50 the week after next if he loses in R1 in Dubai.

Will be interesting to see whether Rublev can test Calf tomorrow. Seems unlikely that he could win, but perhaps he can take a set again.

Despite losing the points from winning Doha last year, Rublev should maintain a top-20 ranking next week.
 
helterskelter said:
Nice win for Rublev. Increases the pressure on Tsitsipas to do well in the defense of his Dubai title. Even with the showing this week, I believe that Tsitsipas could drop to around #50 the week after next if he loses in R1 in Dubai.

Will be interesting to see whether Rublev can test Calf tomorrow. Seems unlikely that he could win, but perhaps he can take a set again.

Despite losing the points from winning Doha last year, Rublev should maintain a top-20 ranking next week.
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Increases the pressure on Tsitsipas to do well in the defense of his Dubai title.

are either or both Carlos and Jannik playing in Dubai?
 
marc45 said:
Increases the pressure on Tsitsipas to do well in the defense of his Dubai title.

are either or both Carlos and Jannik playing in Dubai?
Click to expand...

They are not scheduled to do so, though I am not sure whether it's still possible for either of them to request a wild card. The draw will take place on Saturday.
 
Not super relevant to this tournament specifically, but watching these 250s and 500s only makes me more sad about the deterioration of M1000s into two-week events. Having the same players play every day of the week is so fun.
 
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