Australian Open champion Carlos Alcaraz returns to the court on Tuesday when he takes on Arthur Rinderknech in the first round of the Doha ATP 500. Jiri Lehecka and Jenson Brooksby are also on the playing order.
(1) Carlos Alcaraz vs. Arthur Rinderknech
Alcaraz and Rinderknech will face off for the fifth time in their careers when they clash in the first round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Tuesday. All four of their previous encounters have gone in Alcaraz’s favor. Rinderknech took a set in their first two meetings, but the Spaniard scored 7-5, 6-4 on the grass courts of Queen’s Club last summer and 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4 a few months later at the US Open.
It’s almost impossible to see Rinderknech crossing the threshold into Doha. The 30th-ranked Frenchman is just 3-3 this season and his only win against anyone ranked higher than 200th has come at the expense of an ice-cold Flavio Cobolli in a three-set thriller at the United Cup. Rinderknech immediately lost to Fabian Marozan at the Australian Open and to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round of Rotterdam, both in straight sets. Alcaraz has had a lot of time off since his Australian Open triumph, so the world number 1 should be ready to get going again.
Choice: Alcaraz in 2
(8) Jiri Lehecka vs. Jenson Brooksby
Brooksby played in Dallas earlier this month but decided to wrap up February’s swing with Doha-Dubai instead of taking his talents to Delray Beach and Acapulco. It could pay off as the draw for world number 47 is open. Lehecka is not in spectacular form and Alexander Bublik, who withdrew, was in the same section of the bracket.
This is the second match between Brooksby and Lehecka after the American prevailed 6-0, 4-6, 7-5 at a 2021 hard-court Futures event in Villena. Brooksby is just 1-3 on the year, but he played well in Dallas’ loss to Tommy Paul in a third-set tiebreaker. Lehecka is 2-2 and lost in straight sets to Arthur Gea in the first round of the Australian Open. The 22nd-ranked Czech will be under some pressure to defend the points in the semi-finals, while Brooksby will be inspired to make the most of his trip to the Middle East.
Choice: Brooksby in 3
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