Alcaraz and Sinner set for desert duel as Doha ATP 500 draw unveiled
World number 1 Carlos Alcaraz and world number 2 Jannik Sinner return to the tour for the first time since the Australian Open, headlining a stacked field in Qatar that features a potential Medvedev-Tsitsipas blockbuster and a gauntlet of in-form challengers.
Carlos Alcaraz, Bahrein 2026 | © DPPI / PsNewz
The Doha desert is set to sizzle as the 2026 Qatar ExxonMobil Open delivers a blockbuster draw for this premier ATP 500 event. All eyes are on world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz and world number 2 Jannik Sinner, who are both making their high-stakes return to the tour for the first time since the Australian Open.
With a potential collision course set for the final, the path through the bracket is loaded with dangerous floaters and high-ranking obstacles.
Carlos Alcaraz leads the top half as the number 1 seed and faces an immediate physical challenge in the first round against Arthur Rinderknech (No. 28). Should the Spaniard advance, he is likely to meet Valentin Royer (No. 57) in the second round. Royer enters Doha agaisnt a qualifier, in excellent form after a breakthrough performance reaching the Montpellier semifinals earlier this month.
Sinner opens with against Machac
Alcaraz’s projected quarterfinal opponent is the 7th seed Karen Khachanov, with a potential semifinal clash against 4th seed Daniil Medvedev.
In the bottom half, 2nd seed Jannik Sinner faces a difficult opening test against the in-form Tomas Machac (No. 28), winner of the Adelaide tournament in January. If Sinner progresses, he will likely face Alexei Popyrin (No. 50), who opens his campaign against Qatari wildcard Mubarak Shannan Zayid (No. 2080).
Popyrin is currently struggling with a significant lack of winning results, having failed to record a match win since last August and suffering early exits in Melbourne, the Manama Challenger, and Rotterdam. Sinner’s path to the trophy could also include a quarterfinal rematch with 6th seed Jakub Mensik.
The tournament features a deep field of seeds:
- Carlos Alcaraz (1)
- Jannik Sinner (2)
- Alexander Bublik (3)
- Daniil Medvedev (4)
- Andrey Rublev (5)
- Jakub Mensik (6)
- Karen Khachanov (7)
- Jiri Lehecka (8)
A major storyline to watch is the potential second-round showdown between Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 33), once a match between two Top 5 players. To set up this rivalry match, Medvedev must first navigate past the talented Shang Juncheng (No. 262), while Tsitsipas must defeat wildcard Moez Echargui (No. 146).
Physical endurance will be a key factor for several contenders who are arriving straight from deep runs in Europe. Both 3rd seed Alexander Bublik and Ugo Humbert (No. 38) were still in Rotterdam playing today, February 14. They face a grueling transition from the indoor courts of the Netherlands to the outdoor hardcourts of Qatar with almost no recovery time.
