Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz of Spain advanced to the final of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Friday, defeating defending champion Andrey Rublev in a closely contested semifinal match.
Alcaraz won 7-6(3), 6-4 after converting his sixth match point, overcoming significant resistance from the Russian fifth seed. The hard-fought win positions the World No. 1 to compete for his first career title at the Doha tournament.
Rublev, who previously won the event in 2020 and 2025, heavily tested the Spaniard’s resolve throughout the match. Despite the pressure, Alcaraz maintained his composure during the final exchanges to close out the match and seal his passage to the championship round.
“I know what I am able to do every time I step on the court, what I am capable of doing,” Alcaraz said when asked if he is ever amazed by himself. “The way that I am approaching every match, I’m just really proud about it. It’s something I am trying to be better at and it’s paying off. I’m proud of myself (for) getting better and maturing,” he added.
“If you want to find a solution to a problem, you should find it in a calm place,” Alcaraz said. “It’s something I am working on. When I am playing and getting mad, seeing I’m not at my best, I just get frustrated. That is not the place you will find solutions. In these matches, I have been really calm, thinking clearly and being positive. It’s in those places where you can find the solutions to a problem,” Alcaraz explained.
The No. 1 player in the ATP Rankings battled for a gripping victory under the lights in Doha to extend his perfect start to 2026 to 11 matches. Although he twice failed to serve out the opening set and saw a 3-0 lead in the second quickly erased, Alcaraz remained steady under pressure to advance to the Qatari ATP 500 final for the first time after two hours, two minutes.
Since capturing the Australian Open crown in January to become the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam, the 22-year-old Alcaraz has played with assurance, but his path in Doha has required persistence.
After rallying past former champion Karen Khachanov in three sets in the quarter-finals, the top seed faced more challenges against Rublev but still fought his way to an impressive win.
Alcaraz stayed composed through a nervy end and eventually converted his sixth match point to secure victory and advance to his 34th tour-level final. The World No. 1 is 25-8 in career finals.
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