Carlos Alcaraz shrugged and smiled through a solid opening in Doha, admitting that seeing Jannik Sinner on the other side of the draw lights a little competitive fire in him.
Both top names started the Qatar Open with straight-sets wins, and that familiar rivalry is already shaping how Alcaraz approaches each match in this week’s event.
Opening wins set up a familiar narrative in Doha
“I’m not going to lie. When Jannik is in the draw, it’s much more likely that I’ll reach the final rounds, and that motivates me to bring my best level, to go day by day trying to see my name in that final,”
Carlos Alcaraz
Alcaraz began his Qatar campaign with a 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over Arthur Rinderknech, returning to competitive court action after his Australian Open triumph and a short break that followed.
Jannik Sinner matched the tone of the week by also winning in straight sets, beating Tomas Machac to reach the later rounds, and both players look likely to work their way toward a deep run in Doha.
Why Alcaraz says Sinner helps him improve
Alcaraz was candid about extra motivation when the Italian is in the field, saying it pushes him to consistently seek his peak level and to take the tournament day by day with finals in mind.
That competitive nudge is practical, not poetic; Alcaraz spelled it out plainly and noted that high-stakes matches like those with Sinner are the ones that sharpen both players and drive measurable improvement.
The rivalry has real-world echoes in results. When both Alcaraz and Sinner played the same events last year, Alcaraz reached finals at a rate of 75%, a statistic that underlines how their matchups often elevate his level.
By contrast, when Sinner was not present in the draw, Alcaraz’s finals rate dipped to 57.1%, a gap the Spaniard used to argue that tough opposition keeps him sharper through a season.
Quarter-final picture and recent form
The pair already have a history that matters: they met in six finals last year, including three Grand Slam finals, with Alcaraz taking the French Open and the US Open titles from those high-profile meetings.
Sinner has been extraordinarily consistent in his own right, having reached at least the quarter-finals in 28 of his past 30 tournaments, a run that stretches back to the 2023 ATP Finals in Turin and highlights his week-in, week-out threat.
The Italian also brought terrific momentum into the new year, winning 22 of his past 23 matches before Doha, with his only recent loss coming to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals.
Looking at the draw, Alcaraz will next face Karen Khachanov after a victory over Valentin Royer, while Sinner is set to play Jakub Mensik, who beat Zhang Zhizhen to reach the last eight.
Both winners are three victories away from another final trophy this season, and the tournament shapes up as a likely stage for the pair to cross paths once more, possibly in Doha’s ultimate match if form holds.
Beyond those two, the quarter-final line-up includes names such as Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, Arthur Fils and Jiri Lehecka, giving the draw depth and potential spoilers for any title chase.
For Alcaraz, the week is part match practice and part statement, and for Sinner it is more of the consistency that has marked his recent seasons; both aim to translate form into another big final meeting this year.
The Qatar Open will reveal whether this rivalry will produce another classic in 2026, with fans and commentators already circling the draw and imagining what a high-stakes rematch might look like between the two stars.
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Christoph Friedrich is a German tennis player and coach currently residing in Oakland, California. He began his tennis journey at the age of eight and has since dedicated his life to the sport. After working as a tennis coach and hitting partner in New York City for eight years, Christoph decided to share his knowledge and experience with tennis players around the world by creating the My Tennis Expert blog. His goal is to make tennis education accessible to everyone and help players select the best equipment for their game, from racquets and strings to shoes and overgrips. Christoph's extensive research and expertise in tennis technology make him a valuable resource for players of all levels.
