DOHA, Qatar – Carlos Alcaraz continued his undefeated start to the 2026 season Wednesday, defeating Valentin Royer 6-2, 7-5 in the Round of 16 at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. The victory secures Alcaraz’s place in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 tournament, where he will face Karen Khachanov.
The match at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex saw the world number one, Alcaraz, initially dominate, taking the first set in 34 minutes. However, Royer, ranked 60th, mounted a challenge in the second set, breaking Alcaraz’s serve to gain a 5-2 lead. Alcaraz then rallied, winning five consecutive games to close out the match in straight sets.
“It’s just about fighting,” Alcaraz said after the match. “Obviously I have to be prepared for everything. There were some moments that I thought about a third set. I’m not gonna lie. But obviously it was just a small place in my mind where I was thinking of the third set. The rest I was working to locate a solution. I’m really pleased and happy that I was able to find good rhythm again.”
This year’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open marks the tournament’s second edition as an ATP 500 event, following its upgrade in 2025. The tournament has attracted a strong field, including Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, with Tsitsipas defeating Medvedev 6-3, 6-4 in a separate match. The tournament has a rich history, with Rafael Nadal having previously won the singles title in 2014 and four doubles titles.
Alcaraz’s win adds $36,190 to his prize money, bringing his total earnings from the tournament to $77,625. A victory in the quarterfinals would add a further $74,310, increasing his total earnings to $151,935. The tournament offers a total prize pool of $2,833,335.
The 22-year-old Spaniard is playing his second tournament since completing the Career Grand Slam in Melbourne. He has yet to drop a match in 2026, maintaining a 9-0 record.
