Alcaraz Storms into Qatar Open Quarterfinals with Commanding Win

Doha, Feb 2026 : World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz continued his impressive run on the ATP Tour by advancing to the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open after a straight-sets victory over France’s Valentin Royer on Wednesday. The Spanish star sealed a 6-2, 7-5 win in 96 minutes, showcasing composure and resilience to avoid a deciding set.

Alcaraz looked in complete control early, racing through the opening set with aggressive baseline play and sharp movement. The second set, however, proved more testing as Royer raised his intensity and pushed the former world No. 1 to the brink. Trailing 2-5, Alcaraz responded in trademark fashion, elevating his game to reel off five consecutive games and close out the match in straight sets.

Reflecting on the contest, Alcaraz admitted there was a brief moment when he considered the possibility of a third set. “I’m not going to lie, there were moments when I thought about it,” he said. “But most of my focus was on finding solutions and getting back into rhythm. Tennis is about fighting for every point, and sometimes closing out a set can be really tough. I’m happy I stayed calm and turned it around.”

The victory extends Alcaraz’s winning streak to nine matches, following his strong showing at the Australian Open earlier this season. He has also reached 27 consecutive wins on outdoor hard courts, a run that dates back to his title triumph at the Cincinnati Open last August. At just 22, the Spaniard continues to underline his dominance on the surface.

Alcaraz will next face Karen Khachanov in Thursday’s quarterfinal, with a semifinal berth at stake. The seventh-seeded Khachanov booked his place by defeating Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 earlier in the day. Khachanov also carries the confidence of being the 2024 champion in Doha, adding extra intrigue to the matchup.

The Spaniard is still chasing his maiden title in Doha, having exited at the quarterfinal stage on his tournament debut last year against Jiri Lehecka. This year, he appears determined to go further.

Elsewhere in the draw, defending champion Andrey Rublev set up a quarterfinal clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas. Rublev eased past Fabian Marozsan 6-2, 6-4, while Tsitsipas reached his first tour-level quarterfinal in 10 months after a notable 6-3, 6-4 win over fourth seed Daniil Medvedev.

With momentum firmly on his side, Alcaraz looks well placed to mount a serious challenge fo