Doha, February 22 – Carlos Alcaraz defeated the resurgent Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-1 in just 50 minutes to win the Qatar Open trophy, just 20 days after becoming the youngest man in history to complete the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open.
This title victory marked Alcaraz's ninth ATP 500 trophy, bringing him level with former World No. 1 Andy Murray for the fourth-highest tally in the category since its inception in 2009.
"I came into this year with a strong desire for more. I think we should always set new goals after each tournament. I'm really happy and proud of everything I've accomplished with my team, both on and off the court."
"This has been a really strong start to the year. It wasn't easy... I had to be mentally strong with my team. I'm just playing great tennis, and I'm really happy about this week. This trophy means a lot to me," Alcaraz said.
From the outset, Alcaraz dictated the terms, striking early and defending with breathtaking athleticism. Even after Fils raised his level and began trading blows from the baseline, the Spaniard repeatedly produced spectacular retrievals and clutch shotmaking to extend his winning streak to 12 matches, according to ATP reports.
Alcaraz has also extended his outdoor hard-court winning streak to 30 matches – a run that includes major triumphs at the Australian Open and US Open. By clinching the title in Doha – his 26th tour-level title – Alcaraz now boasts a 292-65 record, according to the ATP Win/Loss Index.
With his run to a first tour-level final since winning the title in Tokyo in 2024, Fils jumped seven spots to No. 33 in the ATP Live Rankings. The former World No. 14 will next compete at the ATP 500 in Dubai, where he faces a rematch with Jiri Lehecka, whom the Frenchman beat in the Doha quarter-finals.
