Tennis: ATP Doha, Sinner debuts against Machac, possible final against Alcaraz

Rome, 14 February. (LaPresse) – The draw has been made for the ATP 500 tournament in Doha, the capital of Qatar. World number 2, Italy’s Jannik Sinner, will make his debut against Czech Tomas Machac (ATP No. 31), whom he beat in both of their previous encounters in 2024, both on hard courts, at the Masters 1000 in Miami and Shanghai. Making his debut in the tournament, the Italian, seeded number 2, is the only Italian in the singles main draw. If successful, Sinner will most likely play in the round of 16 against Australia’s Alexey Popyrin (ATP 50), who will make his debut against modest local wild card Mubarak Shannan Zayid, who has no ATP ranking. Looking ahead, he faces a potential quarter-final against Czech Jakub Mensik, world number 16, and a semi-final against Alexander Bublik, who entered the Top 10 for the first time last January. The final could see the first duel of the season with Carlos Alcaraz, number 1 in the draw, who was beaten last year by Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals. The Murcian will make his debut against France’s Arthur Rinderknech (ATP 28). The winner will face another Frenchman, Valentin Royer (57), or a qualifier in the round of 16. If the seeds hold, the highest-ranked player among Alcaraz’s potential opponents in the quarter-finals is Karen Khachanov (18), who, however, makes his debut against Spain’s Jaume Munar (37). Finally, in the semi-finals, he could face one of Daniil Medvedev (11 ATP), Andrey Rublev (15) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (32). In doubles, Italy can count on the presence in the main draw of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, still in contention this week in Rotterdam where they are aiming for their first final of 2026. Having become the first Italian semi-finalists in doubles at the ATP Finals last year, they make their debut against Czech Adam Pavlasek and Australian John Patrick Smith.