Carlos Alcaraz Overcomes Umpire Clash to Rally Past Khachanov and Reach Doha Semifinals

carlos alcaraz advanced to the semifinals of the ATP 500 in Doha after a three-set comeback against Karen Khachanov, prevailing 6-7, 6-4, 6-3. The victory came after a tight opening set and a contentious interaction with the chair umpire over a time violation.

Carlos Alcaraz's comeback and the umpire dispute

The match began as a close affair, with the opening set decided in a tiebreak that went Khachanov's way. After dropping that set, Alcaraz found his footing and reversed the momentum across the next two sets, ultimately winning the match in three.

Beyond the scoreboard, the contest featured a notable dispute with the chair umpire. Following a lengthy point, Alcaraz went to retrieve his towel and was penalized with a time violation. He reacted strongly on court and criticized the event's rules, stating Las reglas de la ATP son una mierda, siempre son una mierda. The incident interrupted play but did not alter the final outcome: Alcaraz completed the comeback and secured his spot among the tournament's last four.

Unbeaten run extended and looming Rublev matchup

With the Doha win, carlos alcaraz extended his unbeaten run to ten consecutive victories. The streak can continue in the same event, where his next opponent for a place in the final will be Andrey Rublev.

The recent head-to-head between the two favors Alcaraz, standing 4-1 in his favor. The matchup carries additional context: Alcaraz has not lost to Rublev since their meeting in Madrid in 2024, a pattern that shapes expectations for the upcoming challenge.

Given the scoreline and on-court tensions, the semifinal promises to be a high-stakes encounter. Alcaraz moves into the next round having weathered both competitive pressure and officiating controversy, while Rublev will attempt to halt the Spaniard's momentum and test the consistency of his recent form.

Match snapshot

• Match result: Alcaraz def. Karen Khachanov 6-7, 6-4, 6-3
• Notable incident: time violation called after a long point when Alcaraz went for his towel; dispute with the chair umpire followed
• Current streak: ten consecutive wins
• Next round: faces Andrey Rublev for a place in the final
• Head-to-head vs. Rublev: 4-1 in favor of Alcaraz; last Rublev defeat mentioned occurred after Madrid 2024

Recent updates indicate these are the confirmed match facts; details may evolve as the tournament progresses.