Doha ATP 500: Fils faces Majchrzak in first outdoor hard test of the season
Arthur Fils takes another step in his post-injury comeback when he meets Kamil Majchrzak in the opening round of the ATP 500 in Doha on Monday, February 16, 2026. The match, their first career meeting, is scheduled not before 9: 00 a. m. ET on Grandstand 1 (second rotation) and will be played on outdoor hard court.
Match details and context
The 21-year-old Frenchman (world No. 40) is playing only his third event of the season after a six-month absence with a back problem. This Doha appearance represents his first outdoor hard-court tournament since returning to competition on the indoor swing. The Polish opponent, 30-year-old Kamil Majchrzak (No. 56), arrives with questions over his own fitness after back issues flared at the Australian Open; he has not played in over three weeks.
With conditions in Doha typically faster and wind a possible factor on the exposed courts, adaptability will be important. The match is scheduled as part of the second rotation on Grandstand 1, meaning a mid-morning ET start if the session runs to time.
Fils' recent form: encouraging signs after long layoff
Since returning to the tour, Fils has shown encouraging match sharpness and physical resilience. He reached the quarterfinals in Montpellier, posting victories over Valentin Royer and Ugo Blanchet before bowing out to Félix Auger-Aliassime. In Rotterdam he pushed Alex De Minaur, taking the first set to a tiebreak before losing 7-6, 6-2; the opening set was arguably his best since the comeback and suggested his level is trending upward.
Fils himself has stressed his confidence in his conditioning after long spells on court early in the season, saying he feels able to sustain high-level play over extended matches. That belief will be vital here: Doha is a different test — outdoors, on quicker surfaces and often under stronger sun and breeze — and will reveal whether the fitness and timing he showed indoors transfer to hard-court conditions.
For the record, this fixture will be an important test for arthur fils as he looks to turn solid short-term results into consistent wins at higher-tier events.
Majchrzak threat and tactical matchup
Majchrzak is a seasoned opponent with a complete game—solid from both wings, able to mix slices and drop shots and to change pace. He reached a career-high around the mid-50s earlier in the season after impressive runs that included two Challenger titles and a run to the Wimbledon last 16. Perhaps his most eye-catching result in recent seasons was a comeback victory over a top-10 player at a Grand Slam, where he overcame match points to prevail.
Fitness is the major unknown. The Pole acknowledged he had not been at full capacity at the Australian Open after back discomfort, and how he rebounds physically in Doha will determine how dangerous he can be. If Majchrzak has regained rhythm and movement, his variety and court craft could trouble Fils, particularly if the Frenchman rushes or allows too many short points.
Tactically, Fils will want to impose his forehand and take control of rallies early, denying Majchrzak time to use his slice and change-of-pace game. Conversely, Majchrzak will look to disrupt rhythm, use angles and extend rallies to test Fils' movement and patience on an outdoor hard surface.
Expect a match that tests both players’ readiness at the start of the season: Fils to confirm the progress made since his comeback, and Majchrzak to prove his fitness and threat level remain intact. Either way, Doha’s conditions make this a revealing first-round contest.
