Alexei Popyrin started the season with high expectations, but the start has been poor: one win from six matches and not even any clear signs of improvement. For Jannik Sinner, this tournament is an opportunity to quickly get back to winning ways after his setback at the Grand Slam in Australia.
Alexei Popyrin
Popyrin can still produce strong performances, especially on fast courts where his powerful serve and aggressive forehand keep him competitive on serve. However, the last few months show no stability. Last week, the defeat to Felix Auger-Aliassime (5:7, 3:6) showed he is unable to maintain a high tempo over a match. At the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Alexei opened with a 6:0, 6:2 win over Mubarak Zayid, a local wild card. Those statistics are worrying: he has not won two consecutive hard-court matches in over ten tournaments.
Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner approaches Doha as another title opportunity. The Italian has been dominant on hard courts: in 10 of his last 12 wins on this surface he did not drop a set. In Doha, he beat Tomas Machac in 1 hour 10 minutes, committing no double faults and serving seven aces. Over the past eight months he has only lost to top-three opponents and has routinely handled lesser-ranked players, especially in early rounds.
Alexei Popyrin vs Jannik Sinner Prediction
Sinner is in peak form and has been comfortably disposing of opponents early in events, whereas Popyrin is in a deep slump. Expect a one-sided contest in which the Italian dictates the tempo and leaves the Australian with little chance.
