Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz beats Arthur Fils to lift Qatar Open title
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Doha: Carlos Alcaraz stormed past resurgent Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-1 in just 50 minutes to clinch the Qatar Open trophy, just 20 days after becoming the youngest man in history to complete the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open.
The victory marked Alcaraz’s ninth ATP 500 title, drawing him level with former World No. 1 Andy Murray for the fourth-highest tally in the category since its inception in 2009.
“I came this year hungry for more. After every tournament, we just have to set new goals. I’m really happy and proud of everything I’ve done with my team on and off the court,” Alcaraz said. “It’s been a strong start to the year. It wasn’t easy… I had to be strong mentally with my team. I’m playing great tennis and I’m really happy about this week. This trophy means a lot to me.”
From the outset, Alcaraz dominated the match, striking early and defending with breathtaking athleticism. Even as Fils raised his level and traded blows from the baseline, the Spaniard repeatedly produced spectacular retrievals and clutch shotmaking, extending his winning streak to 12 matches, according to ATP reports.
Alcaraz also extended his outdoor hard-court winning streak to 30 matches, a run that includes major triumphs at the Australian Open and US Open. The Doha title, his 26th tour-level victory, brings his career record to 292-65, per the ATP Win/Loss Index.
Fils, making his first tour-level final since winning in Tokyo in 2024, jumped seven spots to No. 33 in the ATP Live Rankings. He will next compete at the ATP 500 in Dubai, where he faces a rematch with Jiri Lehecka, whom he defeated in the Doha quarter-finals.
With IANS inputs
