Bold takeaway: a rising star just toppled a reigning globe-topping contender, reshaping the Qatar Open picture as we head to the semis.
Jakub Mensik, the sixth seed from the Czech Republic, halted Jannik Sinner’s bid for another final by eliminating the world number two in a gripping Qatar Open quarter-final. The 20-year-old edged the opening set, Sinner answered back, but Mensik surged in the decider to claim a 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-3 victory.
This result snaps Sinner’s remarkable streak of 22 victories from 23 matches, with his only loss previously coming at Novak Djokovic’s hands in the Australian Open semi-finals last month. The win marks a notable upset as Mensik, who is just 24, secured a breakthrough moment in Doha—the first time these two players met at the Tour level.
In the semi-finals, Mensik will face an unseeded Frenchman, Arthur Fils, who defeated Czech player Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-3. This sets the stage for Mensik to chase a second ATP final of 2026, following his Auckland Open title earlier in the year.
Across the other half of the bracket, world number one Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the semis and will meet defending champion Andrey Rublev after both secured wins in their respective last-eight matches.
