Doha
Alcaraz beats Royer in Doha to spark Khachanov QF clash
Tsitsipas defeats Medvedev and will face defending champion Rublev for semi-final spot
February 18, 2026
Karim Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images
Carlos Alcaraz takes on Valentin Royer in Doha on Wednesday.
Andy West
Carlos Alcaraz produced a stunning finish to secure promotion to the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha on Wednesday in straight sets.
The PIF ATP No. 1 player defeated Valentin Royer 6-2, 7-5 to seal a spot in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 Hard Court event. Alcaraz raised his level with typical grace as he won five straight games from 2-5 in the second set, eventually prevailing in the 96-minute second round.
The world’s best method🗣️💪@carlosalcaraz Defeated Royer 6-2, 7-5 to return to Doha quarterfinals@khadatennis | #QADAExxonMobilOpen pic.twitter.com/wX6PGzjSF7
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 18, 2026
“Obviously, I have to be ready for anything,” Alcaraz said when asked if he ever doubted he could win. “Sometimes I think about the third set, I’m not going to lie, but obviously it’s just a little place in my mind thinking about it. The rest is just trying to find solutions and find the right way again.
“I’m really happy and happy that I was able to find a good rhythm again and play good tennis. That’s the fight. I know tennis. It’s just one point and sometimes it’s hard to end the set or the match. I had to stay there and I’m happy that I turned it around and won in straight sets.”
Alcaraz, who consolidated his Australian Open title by reaching the quarter-finals in Doha and is now on a nine-match winning streak, will face Karen Khachanov on Thursday for a spot in the last four. Earlier on Wednesday, seventh seed Khachanov beat Marton Fucsovic 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to become the 2024 champion in the Qatari capital.
Alcaraz has now won 27 consecutive matches on outdoor hard courts since winning the Cincinnati Open last August. The 22-year-old is chasing a maiden trophy in Doha, having made his debut a year ago where he lost to Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals.
Despite the defeat, Royal will take plenty of positives from his first Lexus ATP head-to-head meeting with Alcaraz, who has moved up seven spots to No. 53 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings after reaching the second round in Doha. The 24-year-old Frenchman showed no nerves in one game of the second set, but he was unable to counter Alcaraz’s late charge.
Alcaraz took the lead to break serve and tied the score at 5-5. The Spaniard made two consecutive wonderful passes to chase the score to 6-5. From there, he had no problem winning, converting four of the eight break points he won, according to Infosys ATP Statistics.
Alcaraz will continue his perfect record against Khachanov in Qatar on Thursday. He leads 5-0 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, including a straight-sets win in the only hard-court event in Beijing in 2024.
The other quarter-final in the Alcaraz half draw will pit fifth seed and defending champion Andrei Rublev against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Rublev defeated Fabian Marozsan 6-2, 6-4, while former world No. 3 Tsitsipas defeated fourth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the tour quarter-finals for the first time in 10 months.
