Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are the top seeds at the ATP 500 event in Doha.
With their incredible form, the world's best players are the favorites to reach in the final.
Carlos Alcaraz🇪🇸 empieza a sacar lujitos con el drive en su estreno en Doha#QatarExxonMobilOpen
— Iván Aguilar (@ivabianconero) February 17, 2026
Speaking about that scenario, the Spaniard embraced it and fueled hopes of another blockbuster final against his greatest rival. Not hiding his feelings, Carlos admitted it's a massive motivation to see Jannik in the draw alongside him.
Alcaraz is always ready to make an extra push and pass the opponents en route to a possible title clash with Sinner. Instead of picking some weaker rival, the El Palmar native wants to chase the trophies against the finest competitor who sharpens his focus.
As many times before, world no. 1 is eager to defeat four rivals and likely arrange another title duel with the rival who has been dominating alongside him, especially at Majors.
The young gun respects every rival. However, he acknowledges that Jannik's presence increases the likelihood of needing to produce his very best to arrange the clash against him.
Winning or losing them, every final against the Italian provides learning opportunities. Like against no one else, facing Sinner provides necessary exposure of areas for improvement.
Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, ATP Finals 2025© Stream screenshot
Thus, with more matches against his greatest rival, he gets a chance to evolve and make his game even more complete and dangerous. Knowing all that, the title clashes between them present benchmarks for growth instead of regular title battles.
Their potential Qatar Open final already creates buzz. However, Alcaraz is taking one match at a time, passing Arthur Rinderknech and preparing for the second-round clash against another Frenchman.
"Having Jannik in the draw is always good. You always want to keep up. Hopefully, we can battle in another final. Those are the moments you work for, to reach the later rounds, whoever it is.
But, obviously, I'm not going to lie: when Jannik is in the draw, you feel it's much more likely that I will reach the later rounds. That motivates me to play at my best, to take it one day at a time and try to see my name in that final.
I hope I can play against him, because those are the matches that really make me improve," Carlos Alcaraz said.
