Carlos Alcaraz Dominates Arthur Fils To Win Qatar ExxonMobil Open
Remember when everyone lost their minds after Carlos Alcaraz split with longtime coach Juan Carlos Ferrero back in December? The hot takes were flying faster than one of his forehand winners.
The World No. 1 just waltzed through Doha like he owned the place, dismantling Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-1 in the final on Saturday. And honestly? It wasn’t even close. Alcaraz looked like he was playing a completely different sport out there.
The Coaching Change That Had Everyone Talking
Let’s rewind for a second. When Alcaraz and Ferrero decided to part ways after years of success together, the tennis world collectively gasped. These two had built something special—Grand Slam titles, a World No. 1 ranking, the whole nine yards. Naturally, people wondered if ditching that partnership would send the young Spaniard into a tailspin. Spoiler alert: It didn’t.
Instead, Alcaraz came out swinging and captured the Australian Open title in January. Then he added this Doha trophy to his collection, playing some of the most suffocating tennis we’ve seen from him. That’s now 26 career titles for the 22-year-old phenom. For perspective, only Novak Djokovic has more among active players. Not bad company to keep.
What Makes This Version of Alcaraz So Dangerous
Here’s the thing about Alcaraz that should terrify the rest of the ATP Tour: He’s still getting better. Two years ago, critics pointed to occasional lapses in concentration and a tendency to go for hero shots when a simple winner would do just fine. Those weaknesses? Pretty much gone.
The 2026 version of Alcaraz brings laser focus and smarter shot selection to every match. He’s not trying to paint lines on every ball anymore. He is picking his spots, being patient when he needs to be, and then unleashing hell when the opportunity presents itself. It’s like watching someone master a video game and unlock all the achievements.
Alcaraz hasn’t lost an outdoor hardcourt match since last year’s Miami Open. That’s an absurd streak that speaks to both his talent and his newfound consistency. The guy is absolutely rolling right now.
Fils Couldn’t Get Anything Going
Nobody expected Arthur Fils to have an easy day at the office, but yikes. The young Frenchman, who’s working his way back from a back injury that forced him to retire from the French Open last year, simply had no answers for what Alcaraz was throwing at him.
Fils won just three games total. Three. Against a player operating at this level, that’s basically showing up and hoping for the best. But here’s the silver lining: ATP tennis is better when Fils is healthy and competing. The kid has talent, and once he gets fully back into rhythm, he’ll be a problem for everyone. Just not on this particular Saturday in Doha.
What’s Next For the Young Gun
With Doha in the rearview mirror, Alcaraz sets his sights on Indian Wells, where defending champion Jack Draper will be waiting. Can Draper hold off this version of Alcaraz? That’s going to be appointment viewing.
The scary part for everyone else on tour is that Alcaraz just became the youngest player ever to complete the career Grand Slam last month. He’s already rewriting the record books, and he’s barely old enough to rent a car in some states. If he stays healthy, there’s no telling how many titles this guy will rack up.
The Bottom Line
Alcaraz just proved that great players find a way to adapt and thrive, regardless of who’s in their box. He’s playing the best tennis of his career, he’s stacking titles like they’re going out of style, and he’s doing it all with a smile on his face.
