Doha erupted in excitement as world number one Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his Qatar Open campaign with a hard-fought victory. The 22-year-old Spaniard defeated France’s Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the first round, marking a strong start to the ATP 500 event.
Alcaraz showcased his resilience in the second set, saving two set points on serve before dominating the tie-break to secure his 150th tour-level win on hard courts. This milestone victory sets the stage for what promises to be a thrilling tournament run.
Post-match, Alcaraz reflected on the challenge: ‘It was really tough. Arthur is a dangerous player, and no one wants to face him in the first round. I’m glad I navigated those tough moments, stayed calm and positive, and played some great tennis.’
Aiming to surpass last year’s quarterfinal exit to Jiri Lehecka in Doha, Alcaraz now faces Frenchman Valentin Royer in the second round. A potential path ahead could see him clash with defending champion Karen Khachanov in the quarters and Jannik Sinner in the final.
Khachanov, the 2024 winner, advanced by overcoming lucky loser Shintaro Mochizuki 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. The seventh seed will next take on Marton Fucsovics.
Defending champion Andrey Rublev recovered from a slow start to beat Jesper de Jong 6-4, 6-3. The fifth seed, a former Doha winner in 2020, faces Fabian Marozsan, who crushed Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-1.
Stefanos Tsitsipas also progressed, defeating Tunisian wild card Moez Echargui 6-4, 6-4, setting up a blockbuster second-round clash with 2023 champion Daniil Medvedev.
As the Qatar Open heats up, Alcaraz’s form signals he could be the man to beat on these hard courts.