Alcaraz prepares to compete against Sinner in Asia

Encounters between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner — the two top players at present — consistently produce thrilling action.

The draw for the 2026 Qatar ExxonMobil Open has been officially announced, opening the possibility of a dream final showdown between the world’s leading players, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Alcaraz enters the ATP 500 tournament in Doha as the top seed. This event marks his first competition since winning the Australian Open last month. That title made the Spanish player the youngest ever to complete a Career Grand Slam, solidifying his position as number one on the ATP Tour.

In Doha, Carlitos will start by facing Arthur Rinderknech. If he maintains his form and seed ranking, he is likely to meet Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals — the 2023 champion and one of the most experienced hard-court players.

On the other side of the draw, Sinner — the second seed — will be making his debut at this tournament. The 24-year-old Italian hasn’t played since exiting the Australian Open semifinals. He will begin his Doha campaign against Tomas Machac, a player he currently leads 2-0 in head-to-head matches.

If he advances, Sinner is expected to face Alexander Bublik in the semifinals. Bublik, seeded third, is in steady form and considered a dangerous unknown. The Kazakh player’s section also includes Arthur Fils, who recently returned from a long-term injury.

This year’s tournament features other notable players such as Andrey Rublev — the defending champion, Jakub Mensik — the 2024 runner-up, and Karen Khachanov — the 2024 champion. Rublev has won in Doha twice before, including the 2020 title when the event was part of the ATP 250 series.