Carlos Alcaraz Survives Against Arthur Rinderknech To Begin Qatar Open
There’s something about watching a top athlete figure things out on the fly. It’s not always pretty, but it’s almost always compelling. Carlos Alcaraz, fresh off his history-making run at the Australian Open, stepped onto the hard courts of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Tuesday not just as a participant, but as the man everyone is gunning for. Arthur Rinderknech was ready to take his shot.
The 22-year-old Spaniard ultimately booked his ticket to the second round with a 6-4, 7-6(5) victory, but the score line doesn’t quite capture the tension in the air. This wasn’t a walk in the park; it was more like a hike up a steep hill with a few loose rocks.
The Art Of the Drop Volley
Alcaraz has this uncanny ability to make the difficult look routine, and nowhere was that more evident than at the net. He was tossing out volleys like they were party favors, winning 76% of his net points. It’s a bold strategy, but when you have hands like his, it’s a weapon of mass disruption.
But Rinderknech wasn’t just there to applaud. The 6’5” Frenchman used his reach and power to keep things interesting, especially in the second set. He served with precision, pushing Alcaraz to the brink.
Surviving the Pressure Cooker
Here’s where the “World No. 1” label earns its weight. Serving to stay in the second set at 5-6, Alcaraz faced two set points. In tennis, that’s the moment the air leaves the stadium. A lesser player might have tightened up, maybe double-faulted, or sprayed a forehand wide. Alcaraz? He just dug in. He saved those points, forced a tie-break, and then found another gear.
The tie-break was a microcosm of the match: tight, tense, and ultimately decided by a moment of brilliance. At 5-5, Alcaraz uncorked a forehand winner down the line that felt less like a tennis shot and more like a statement of intent. Game, set, match.
Looking Ahead: The Road Through Doha
This win marks Alcaraz’s 150th hard-court victory, a nice little milestone to tuck into his bag. But he’s not here for milestones; he’s here for hardware. He’s got his eyes on improving last year’s quarter-final finish, and next up is Valentin Royer.
The draw is stacked, though. Looming in the distance is Jannik Sinner, his great rival, who also advanced. A potential final between those two is what every tennis fan is secretly hoping for. For now, Alcaraz survives to fight another day, keeping his perfect 8-0 start to the 2026 season alive.
