Jannik Sinner Knocked Out of Qatar Open; Alcaraz Moves Closer to Title
Jannik Sinner suffered a shock quarter-final defeat at the Qatar Open, ending his strong run in Doha. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz battled past Karen Khachanov to reach the semi-finals and move closer to another title. The tournament delivered major surprises as top contenders fought for a place in the final.
Jannik Sinner Knocked Out of Qatar Open
Jannik Sinner’s campaign ended after a three-set loss to Czech sixth seed Jakub Mensik. The 20-year-old edged a tight first-set tie-break before Sinner responded strongly in the second. However, Mensik controlled the decider to seal a 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-3 victory.
As a result, Sinner’s impressive run of 22 wins in 23 matches came to a halt. His only recent defeat before this had come against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals. Although the Italian reached 10 finals in 2025 and won both the Australian Open and Wimbledon, he could not overcome world number 16 Mensik in their first meeting.
Alcaraz Fights Back to Reach Semi-Finals
In contrast, Carlos Alcaraz showed resilience in his quarter-final clash. The world number one lost a tight first set to Karen Khachanov but raised his level in the next two sets. He secured a 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-3 victory to extend his unbeaten start to the season to 10 matches.
Importantly, Alcaraz recently completed his career Grand Slam at the Australian Open. Now, he will face defending champion Andrey Rublev for a spot in the final. Rublev defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) in a competitive encounter.
Mensik and Fils Set for Semi-Final Battle
Following his win over Jannik Sinner, Mensik will meet unseeded Frenchman Arthur Fils in the semi-finals. Fils advanced after beating Jiri Lehecka in straight sets. Consequently, the Czech youngster now stands one step away from reaching one of the biggest finals of his career.
Mensik admitted he respected Sinner’s achievements but entered the match with a winning mindset. His composed performance against the world number two marked a significant milestone in his rising career.
Doubles Final to Feature British Presence
Meanwhile, the doubles competition also produced notable storylines. Top seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool reached the final after defeating Quentin Halys and Pierre-Hugues Herbert. They will face Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara in the championship match.
Notably, British players will feature prominently in the doubles final, adding extra interest to the closing stages of the tournament.
Conclusion
Jannik Sinner’s early exit headlines a dramatic Qatar Open, while Carlos Alcaraz continues his dominant form in 2026. Mensik’s breakthrough victory reshaped the draw, and the semi-finals promise intense competition. As the tournament nears its conclusion, Alcaraz appears firmly on course for another major title.
FAQs
Jakub Mensik defeated Jannik Sinner in three sets in the quarter-finals.
Alcaraz will play Andrey Rublev for a place in the final.
Sinner won the second set but lost in three sets after dropping the first and third.
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