DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz showcased his resilience, needing a significant effort to overcome France’s Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) on Tuesday in his debut at the Qatar Open. This marked the Spanish star’s first match since his monumental victory at the Australian Open.
Just two weeks after defeating Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final — an achievement that made him, at 22 years old, the youngest male player to complete a career Grand Slam — Alcaraz returned to competition in Doha, securing a hard-fought victory that spanned one hour and 47 minutes.
The world’s number one player was compelled to save two set points in the second set, ultimately forcing a tie-break which he then dominated. Alcaraz remains undefeated in 2026, extending his perfect record to 8-0.
“It was extremely tough,” Alcaraz stated after his 150th career hard-court win. “Arthur is a very dangerous player. Nobody wants to face him in a first round.”
“I’m happy with my level of play. I’m glad I managed to navigate through the complicated moments of the match. I’m pleased that I stayed calm and positive.”
Alcaraz’s next opponent in the round of 16 will be another Frenchman, Valentin Royer.
Other seeded players who advanced to the round of 16 on Tuesday included Russians Andrey Rublev (5) and Karen Khachanov (7), along with Czech Jiri Lehecka (8).
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