Facing a challenging draw, Alcaraz reflects: I still feel I have weaknesses

Fresh off winning his first Australian Open title, Alcaraz has returned to the tour. However, the Spaniard is not dwelling on the milestone celebration; instead, he has already begun discussing his shortcomings. The world number one will skip the Rotterdam event (where he is the defending champion) and make his comeback in Doha. At 22, Alcaraz defeated Djokovic in Melbourne to complete his career Grand Slam, matching McEnroe's total major titles, yet his focus remains firmly on self-improvement.

In a pre-Doha interview, Alcaraz emphasized that success has not changed his mindset: “Obviously, I see that I have achieved a lot so far, winning the most important tournaments in the world, but what I see more clearly are my weaknesses. I know many players are working hard to catch up with me... They study my game, analyze how I play, trying to beat me and challenge me.”

He stressed that he must always stay one step ahead tactically: “I have to be prepared for that, knowing clearly my current level and condition. I need to put myself in my opponents’ shoes and think about how they might play against me. You can’t let your level stagnate; you have to keep moving forward.”

One of those closely studying him is one of today’s most important peers — the second seed in Doha, Sinner. If they meet in the final, it would add a new chapter to one of the most exciting young rivalries in tennis, but Alcaraz prefers not to look too far ahead.

Alcaraz will face Lindeknecht in the first round, and he expects a tough start: “I know every match is very difficult, each one different... For an ATP 500 event, this draw is really tough. So I will take it one match at a time, thinking day by day.”

Currently, Alcaraz arrives in Doha undefeated this season with a 7-0 record, but he insists results are not his main focus. After a brief visit to Bahrain, where he met Spanish F1 stars Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, his full attention has returned to the tennis court. Interestingly, he has set a special goal for this tournament — what could it be?

Although Alcaraz calls this tournament “very tough,” the draw might actually be somewhat favorable for him. The top seed faces Lindeknecht in the first round, who has struggled early this season with losses to Altmaier and Tsitsipas. Next, Alcaraz expects to face Valentin Royer, who has yet to win a match in the 2026 season.

Potential quarterfinal opponents could be Khachanov (against whom Alcaraz holds a 5-0 record) or Munar (the only player to beat Alcaraz was in 2021). Hard-court threats like Medvedev, Bublik, Sinner, and Menchik would likely appear only in the later stages. Compared to last year, this path to the final seems much friendlier — last year he was stopped by Lehecka in the quarterfinals.

Regarding his specific goals for this event, the 25-time tour champion said he is not prioritizing the trophy but has set a “growth-oriented goal.” “In the days leading up to this tournament, my team and I set some objectives. We didn’t discuss outcomes at all; instead, we focused on the process, on how to improve and continue growing.”

He further emphasized that success in Doha this week will not depend on winning the title: “There are certain areas I really want to improve and develop... If I can achieve those, no matter the result, it will be a very successful week for me. I want to see myself doing the right things both on and off the court.”

Of course, the rewards for winning are significant. The Qatar Open champion will earn 500 ranking points and $529,945 in prize money; the runner-up will receive 330 points and $285,095.

Notably, if Alcaraz wins in Doha, he will move closer to Andy Murray’s all-time prize money record ($64,687,542). Currently, Alcaraz’s career earnings stand at $62,803,831, ranking fifth in the Open Era. Do you think he can maintain his winning streak through the 2026 season?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Huohua)