After his triumph at the Australian Open and completion of the career Grand Slam, Carlos Alcaraz returns to the court. In the first round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, the Spaniard will face Arthur Rinderknech, who has not regained his best condition since last year’s final at the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
Carlos Alcaraz
He comes into this match on a 25‑match winning streak on outdoor hard courts. Even after two weeks without official matches, his playing style remains one of the most stable on tour: a powerful serve, sharp changes of direction and constant pressure in extended rallies. He has played the Frenchman four times and beaten him on every occasion, although each time the margin was small.
Arthur Rinderknech
For the Frenchman, the picture is different. He has lost 13 of his 14 matches against ATP Top 10 opponents. His results this season have featured many long sets — 75% of his sets (12 of 16) have gone to tie‑breaks. Even this year he has played three matches, losing twice, but in every case he has taken at least one set.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Arthur Rinderknech Prediction
The match scenario is clear: the Spaniard should prevail through his intensity and the quality of his rallies, but the Frenchman’s serve could still trouble him. We expect a long match.
