Carlos Alcaraz Advances to Qatar Open Final

The Spanish tennis star defeated Russia's Andrey Rublev to reach the title match.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Carlos Alcaraz extended his unbeaten streak in 2026 and advanced to the final of the Qatar Open after defeating Russian player Andrey Rublev 7-6 (3), 6-4 on Friday.

Why it matters

Alcaraz, the rising Spanish tennis star, is seeking his first title of the 2026 season in Doha. His victory over the higher-ranked Rublev sets up a final showdown against another top player.

The details

Alcaraz prevailed in a tight first set tiebreaker before breaking Rublev's serve in the second set to clinch the semifinal victory. The win extends Alcaraz's undefeated start to the new year as he aims to capture his first title of 2026.

  • The match took place on Friday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Carlos Alcaraz

A rising Spanish tennis star who is seeking his first title of the 2026 season.

Andrey Rublev

A Russian tennis player who was defeated by Alcaraz in the Qatar Open semifinal.

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What they’re saying

“I'm really proud of how I played today and I'm looking forward to the final. It's going to be a tough match, but I'm ready to give it my all.”

— Carlos Alcaraz (expressnews.com)

What’s next

Alcaraz will face the winner of the other semifinal between Daniil Medvedev and Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Qatar Open final on Sunday.

The takeaway

Alcaraz's victory over the higher-ranked Rublev demonstrates his continued rise as one of the top young talents in men's tennis, setting up an intriguing final showdown in Doha.