Carlos Alcaraz makes bold claim after 50-minute demolition of Doha | ATP tour | Tennis

Match response

Alcaraz makes bold claim after 50-minute demolition of Doha

According to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, the Spaniard is 12-0 this season
February 22, 2026

Carlos Alcaraz needed just 50 minutes to beat Arthur Fils in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open final in Doha on Saturday. The Spaniard dropped just three games, but where did the Spaniard rank the best performance of his career?

“I played great. I played great,” Alcaraz said. “Every match is different, every match has its own style. I know he is not far from his real Arthur level. I know he has done it in this tournament, also in the battles we have played before. He made a lot of his mistakes today. For me, I just tried to be focused on myself. I think I played very aggressively, and I didn’t make any mistakes at all. I served well and returned well.”

“I’m just proud. I’m going to call it a Top 10 match or a Top 15 match, just in terms of level.”

Alcaraz lost just one set en route to the title at the ATP 500 event in Doha and is now 12-0 on the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, after completing the career Grand Slam at the Australian Open.

The number 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is proud of his perfect start to the season, but emphasized that success has more to do with collecting titles.

“I think success for me is more than just lifting trophies. I would say success for me is about how you feel and how you see yourself,” Alcaraz said. “I think I’m just very proud, and I’ve had success already, because I learn from every game. Both on and off the field, I learn about everything and every experience I have in my life.”

“As you can see, I’m a completely different person and player than I was in 2022, when I became No. 1 and achieved my first Grand Slam. So I’m just trying to grow up as a person, as a player, and mature and see myself in a position that I just really want to be in. I think that’s the real success for me.”

On Monday, Alcaraz has a lead of 3,200 points over world number 2 Jannik Sinner, who lost to Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals in Doha. Despite the gap at the top of the rankings, the 22-year-old remains firmly focused on refining his game, a mentality he emphasized ahead of the ATP 500 event.

“There is always room for improvement,” says Alcaraz. There is always room for weaknesses. Like I said, I don’t know if it was at the beginning of the tournament or after the first match that I see myself with weaknesses. I’m just trying to be better in practice, I’m just trying to be better in the games.”

Alcaraz will next compete in the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, where he is a two-time champion. The hard court event starts on March 4.