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The world’s top two men’s players are set to clash in Doha this week as the Qatar ExxonMobil Open gets underway.
One of just two ATP Tour events in the Middle East, the competition was voted the 2025 ATP 500 Tournament of the Year by the players themselves, a reflection of how highly it is regarded on the circuit.
With more than 2.3 million euros in prize money at stake, World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz leads a field packed with elite talent. The 22-year-old Spaniard arrives full of confidence and says he has a clear plan for the week ahead as he looks to build momentum early in the season.
“A lot of players i know are trying to catch me up, in terms of they study my game, they study how I play, trying to beat me. Trying to challenge me and i have to be ready for them to see where my level is, where my tennis is. And try to put myself in their minds and think what they could do playing against me.”
For Alcaraz, being the top-ranked player is not just about lifting trophies, it is about staying one step ahead. He is still beaming from his Australian Open title, but knows tennis rarely allows time to linger on achievements.
“Obviously, what I did in Australia was incredible for me and I’m still thinking a little about it. But you know, tennis is just about keep going, tournament after tournament. Every tournament is a good tournament, special. You want to give your 100%. So right now, I’m focused on trying to play my best, trying to improve, doing good things on the court.”
But World No. 2 Jannik Sinner is also chasing the trophy, and for him, this tournament carries a personal touch.
Speaking to Euronews, the 24-year-old reflected on returning to a city he first visited as a junior. “First of all great to play here, you know, for the first time I do remember I was here some years ago because of a junior tournament, so I have great memories in a way and I’m looking forward to it,” he said.
“We try to get the rhythm back from Australia, heading also into the Sunshine Double after in the US, and then we’ll see. Of course, we are here trying to perform in the best possible way, and we’ll then see how it goes.”
“You know, you have small feedback from training sessions of course you need to play matches trying to understand what works best so let’s see what’s coming.”
Defending champion Andrey Rublev returns hoping to make it back-to-back titles in Doha.
However, there will be one notable absentee. World No. 3 Novak Djokovic, a two-time champion in Doha, has withdrawn from the tournament citing fatigue.
But with Alcaraz and Sinner leading the charge, Doha feels like a glimpse into the sport’s present and future.