Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Italian Jannik Sinner, two of the world’s best tennis players, easily overcame other obstacles at the ATP 500 tournament in Doha.
Alcaraz beat the Frenchman Valentin Royer, the 60th tennis player in the world, 6-2, 7-5.
In the second set, Royer led even 5-2, but then woke up the Spaniard and won five games in a row to advance to the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, Russian Karen Hačanov is waiting for him, who overcame Hungarian tennis player Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
World No.1 ways 🗣️💪@carlosalcaraz fends off Royer 6-2, 7-5 to return to the Doha quarter-finals@QatarTennis | #QatarExxonMobilOpen pic.twitter.com/wX6PGzjSF7
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 18, 2026
Tsitsipas celebrated in a big clash, Sinner is waiting for Menšik
Sinner, the number two tennis player in the world, also won the match in straight sets. He defeated the Australian 6-3, 7-5 Alexei Popyrin and now he has a match against the Czech Jakub Menšik who was better than the Chinese Zhizhen Zhang 6-3, 6-2.
The derby of the second round was played by former tennis players from the very top of the ATP rankings, Danil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Tsitsipas celebrated with a convincing 6-3, 6-4, although the Russian player still has a big 10-5 head-to-head record during his career.
Tsitsipas will have a new match against his Russian rival.
The new threat is Andrej Rubljov, who beat the Hungarian Fabian Marozsan easily 6-2, 6-4.
Sinner’s Doha debut drives 🔛
Make that 12 ATP 500 wins in a row for @janniksin @QatarTennis | #QatarExxonMobilOpen pic.twitter.com/fB9qeT0iUI
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 18, 2026
(Hina | Photo: X)
