Carlos Alcaraz advances to Round of 16 in Doha

The Spanish tennis star saved two set points in his opening match victory.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Carlos Alcaraz, the rising Spanish tennis star, defeated Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in his opening match at the Qatar Open. Alcaraz had to fight hard, saving two set points in the second set tiebreaker, to advance to the Round of 16 of the tournament.

Why it matters

Alcaraz is one of the top young talents in men's tennis, having won his first Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open. His performance in Doha will be closely watched as he continues his quest to establish himself as a dominant force in the sport.

The details

Alcaraz, the world No. 2, faced a tough challenge from the 59th-ranked Rinderknech. After taking the first set, Alcaraz found himself in a tight second-set tiebreaker, where he saved two set points to eventually prevail 7-5 and secure the victory.

  • The match took place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

The players

Carlos Alcaraz

A 19-year-old Spanish tennis player who won his first Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open and is currently ranked No. 2 in the world.

Arthur Rinderknech

A 27-year-old French tennis player currently ranked No. 59 in the world.

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What they’re saying

“It was a tough match, but I'm happy to have won and advanced to the next round.”

— Carlos Alcaraz (nhregister.com)

What’s next

Alcaraz will face the winner of the match between Botic van de Zandschulp and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the Round of 16.

The takeaway

Alcaraz's ability to grind out a tough victory against a lower-ranked opponent demonstrates his mental toughness and resilience, which will be crucial as he continues his pursuit of more Grand Slam titles and the world No. 1 ranking.