Alcaraz and Sinner on Collision Course in Doha

Top seeds set to meet in potential Qatar ExxonMobil Open final

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have discovered their potential routes to a blockbuster championship clash at the 2026 Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, with the ATP 500 draw unveiled on Saturday. Top seed Alcaraz returns to action for the first time since his historic triumph at the Australian Open, where he became the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam. Second seed Sinner makes his Doha debut looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking semifinal loss at the Australian Open.

Why it matters

Alcaraz and Sinner have developed a fierce rivalry in recent years, meeting 17 times professionally with Alcaraz holding an 11-6 advantage. Their potential championship clash in Doha would mark the ninth time they've faced off for a title, making it one of the most anticipated matchups in men's tennis.

The details

Alcaraz opens against Arthur Rinderknech and is projected to meet fourth seed Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals. Sinner begins against World No. 31 Tomas Machac, and could face third seed Alexander Bublik in the semifinals. Should the draw hold, an Alcaraz-Sinner final would be their 18th professional meeting.

  • The 2026 Qatar ExxonMobil Open draw was unveiled on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
  • Alcaraz won the Australian Open earlier this year, becoming the youngest player to complete the Career Grand Slam.

The players

Carlos Alcaraz

The 22-year-old Spanish tennis player is the top seed in Doha and the reigning Australian Open champion.

Jannik Sinner

The 24-year-old Italian is the second seed in Doha and is looking to bounce back from a tough semifinal loss at the Australian Open.

Daniil Medvedev

The fourth-seeded Russian is a potential semifinal opponent for Alcaraz in Doha.

Alexander Bublik

The third-seeded Kazakh player could face Sinner in the semifinals in Doha.

Andrey Rublev

The defending Doha champion in 2020 and 2025 is looking to reclaim his title.

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What’s next

The 2026 Qatar ExxonMobil Open will take place from February 12-18, 2026 in Doha, Qatar.

The takeaway

The highly anticipated Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry is set to continue at the 2026 Qatar ExxonMobil Open, with the two stars on a collision course for a potential championship showdown that would mark their 18th professional meeting and 9th title clash.