Alcaraz and Sinner earn hefty sums by participating in the Qatar Open 2026.

Taking part in events in China and West Asia usually results in players receiving significant financial rewards.

Although Novak Djokovic, the ambassador for Qatar Airways, withdrew at the last minute,the excitement surrounding the Qatar Open 2026 did not diminish. On the contrary, the tournament in Doha continues to demonstrate the strong financial backing of its organizers, especially as the ATP discusses plans for a long-term restructuring of the competition system.

This year’s focus centers on the appearance fees awarded to two top stars, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.According to La Gazzetta dello Sport,each player receives about 1.2 million USD in promotional fees—a sum far exceeding the official prize money of the tournament. Specifically, the 2025 Doha champion earned 529,945 USD, while the runner-up got 285,095 USD. This disparity highlights the growing importance of commercial agreements in the financial structure of elite tennis.

The ATP allows 500 and 250 level tournaments to pay promotional fees to attract big names, based on their marketing value and fan appeal. However, in Doha, this practice has been elevated to an unusually high level. Normally, such fees range from 800,000 to 1 million USD, but Qatar’s financial power has significantly increased these amounts.

This substantial investment is part of the Middle Eastern country's long-term sports strategy. The Doha tournament has been on the ATP Tour since 1993, gradually upgrading from a 250 to a 500 level event and increasing total prize money to 2.8 million USD by 2025. Many legends like Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray have won here, helping to build the tournament’s prestige.

Sinner began his campaign in Doha late on February 16 (Vietnam time) with a straightforward 2-0 victory over Tomas Machac. Meanwhile, Alcaraz is scheduled to start on February 17 against Arthur Rinderknech.