qatar open: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz march into Doha quarter-finals
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz continued their strong starts at the Qatar Open on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 ET, both winning in straight sets to move into the last eight in Doha. The two headline names kept alive the prospect of another high-stakes final showdown after efficient victories over Alexei Popyrin and Valentin Royer respectively.
Sinner extends striking consistency with straight-sets win
World number two Jannik Sinner maintained his exceptional form, dispatching Australia's Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 7-5 to secure a quarter-final berth. The 24-year-old Italian produced polished baseline control and timely serving to close out the contest in two sets, continuing a stretch of dominance that has become a hallmark of his game.
Sinner's run in Doha adds to an outstanding recent record: he has reached at least the quarter-finals in 28 of his past 30 tournaments, a streak stretching back to the 2023 season-ending event in Turin. He also arrives in Qatar having won 22 of his past 23 matches, the sole blemish being a loss to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals last month. That sequence underlines Sinner's durability and his ability to convert consistent form into deep tournament runs.
Next up for Sinner will be a last-eight clash with sixth seed Jakub Mensik, who advanced with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Zhang Zhizhen. Mensik's straight-sets success sets up a compelling test of whether Sinner's recent momentum can withstand a younger, in-form challenger.
Alcaraz back on winning track and set to face Khachanov
Carlos Alcaraz recorded a confident 6-2, 7-5 victory over France's Valentin Royer, marking his first match win since lifting the Melbourne crown earlier this season. The world number one combined aggressive court positioning with a varied repertoire to keep Royer on the defensive, closing out the second set after a tighter middle phase.
Alcaraz's progression keeps intact the tantalizing possibility of another Sinner–Alcaraz final; the pair met six times in 2025, including three major finals, with each taking key titles over the campaign. With both players moving smoothly through the early rounds in Doha, the pathway to a repeat high-stakes encounter remains open.
The Spaniard now faces Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals. Khachanov booked his last-eight spot by fighting past Marton Fucsovics in three sets, winning 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. That result promises a stern challenge for Alcaraz: Khachanov's power and ability to impose pace could stretch the world number one and produce a physical, tactical battle.
Quarter-final picture shaping up in Doha
Beyond the headline acts, the Doha last eight is shaping into a strong and varied field. Upset-minded Stefanos Tsitsipas toppled world number 11 Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 and will meet fifth seed Andrey Rublev, who advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Fabian Marozsan. Meanwhile, unseeded Arthur Fils and eighth seed Jiri Lehecka also completed comfortable wins to round out the quarter-final line-up.
With Sinner and Alcaraz both through in straight sets, and several seeded names still in contention, the tournament looks set for high-quality encounters as it moves toward the business end. Fans can expect tight contests and strategic shifts as the remaining players chase a place in the semis and, ultimately, the title.
