In the first round of the Doha tournament, Alcaraz faces his lucky charm Lindeknech, with the ultimate championship well within reach.

Since capturing the Australian Open title on February 1st and achieving a career Grand Slam, world number one and Spain’s all-rounder Alcaraz rested and trained for two weeks before returning this week to play in the ATP 500 Doha tournament. Last year in Doha’s quarterfinals, Alcaraz lost to the remarkably strong Czech young talent Lehecka. This year, in the first round of Doha, he faces his lucky charm, the experienced French player Lindeknech, making Alcaraz’s eventual victory highly anticipated.

Born in July 1995, French player Lindeknech stands 1.96 meters tall, known for his powerful serve and fierce forehand attacks, truly a seasoned French veteran. Throughout his career, Lindeknech has faced Alcaraz four times and has not only lost all four matches but also consistently paved the way for Alcaraz’s remarkable achievements.

In the second round of the 2021 US Open, Lindeknech lost in four sets to the then 18-year-old Alcaraz. Alcaraz went on to reach the US Open quarterfinals that year, becoming one of the first post-2000 players, alongside Canada’s young star Auger-Aliassime, to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal. Unfortunately, Alcaraz withdrew from the quarterfinals due to injury, allowing Auger-Aliassime to become the first post-2000 player to advance to a Grand Slam semifinal.

In the first round of the 2023 ATP 500 Queen’s Club tournament in London, Lindeknech suffered a comeback defeat against Alcaraz. After this match, Alcaraz, still a grass-court rookie, seemed to suddenly master the surface, winning five consecutive matches to claim the Queen’s Club title, marking a stunning transformation from newcomer to champion on grass. In the 2025 Queen’s Club quarterfinals, Alcaraz defeated Lindeknech in straight sets and went on to win the Queen’s Club title for the second time.

In the 2025 US Open round of 16, Alcaraz defeated Lindeknech in straight sets. He then won the final in four sets against the defending champion and Italy’s rising star Sinner, securing his second US Open title and reclaiming the world number one ranking from Sinner.

After these four encounters, how can one deny that the experienced French player Lindeknech is Alcaraz’s lucky charm? In all four meetings, Alcaraz has emerged victorious and ultimately achieved outstanding results.

After the 2026 Australian Open, Alcaraz rested and trained for two weeks before meeting Lindeknech for the fifth time in their careers in the first round of the Doha tournament. For Alcaraz, who faced a setback in last year’s Doha event, this is certainly good news, as he not only hopes to win his opening match but also aims to claim the championship.

However, despite his brilliant performance at the 2026 Australian Open—becoming the youngest male player since the start of the Open Era in 1968 to win seven Grand Slam titles and the youngest ever to complete a career Grand Slam—Alcaraz cannot afford to underestimate any opponent and must treat every match seriously.

After all, Lindeknech performed excellently last year, achieving career-best results in both Grand Slam and Masters tournaments. He reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time at the US Open and then won four consecutive matches against top-20 ranked players at the Shanghai Masters, advancing to his first Masters final. These four defeated opponents included Germany’s Zverev, Czech’s Lehecka, Canada’s Auger-Aliassime, and Russia’s Medvedev.

Moreover, even though Alcaraz is currently at the peak of his career with a bright future, there are still some criticisms about him losing focus during matches, sometimes seeming to suddenly “switch off,” showing a lack of consistency and endurance, especially when facing lower-ranked players.

Tomorrow at 12:30 AM, in the first round of the ATP 500 Doha tournament, world number one Alcaraz will face his lucky charm Lindeknech once again. Let’s see what exciting story unfolds in their fifth career meeting.

(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Qicidoufen)