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Carlos Alcaraz advances to Qatar quarterfinals
Top seed defeats Valentin Royer in straight sets
Published on Feb. 23, 2026
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Top-seeded Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz defeated France's Valentin Royer 6-2, 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha. Alcaraz had a clean first set, saving two break points and breaking Royer twice. Royer jumped ahead 5-2 in the second set, but Alcaraz won 21 of the final 27 points to seal the victory.
Why it matters
Alcaraz, the world's top-ranked player, is seeking his first title of the 2026 season. His run to the quarterfinals in Doha continues his strong start to the year as he looks to build momentum heading into the upcoming Grand Slam events.
The details
Alcaraz had a dominant first set, saving the two break points he faced while breaking Royer's serve twice. In the second set, Royer took a 5-2 lead, but Alcaraz stormed back, winning 21 of the final 27 points to secure the victory. Second-seeded Jannik Sinner also advanced with a straight-set win over Alexei Popyrin, while fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev fell to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the lone upset of the day.
- The match took place on Wednesday, February 19, 2026 in Doha, Qatar.
The players
Carlos Alcaraz
The top-seeded Spanish tennis player and world's current No. 1 ranked player.
Valentin Royer
A French tennis player who faced off against Alcaraz in the round of 16 match.
What’s next
Alcaraz will face the winner of the match between fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev and eighth-seeded Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals.
The takeaway
Alcaraz's victory over Royer keeps the world No. 1 on track for a potential title run at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open as he continues to build momentum ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam events.
