Carlos Alcaraz maintained his flawless start to 2026 on Saturday, dismantling Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-1 in just over 50 minutes to claim the Qatar Open title. The victory in Doha marks the 26th career title for the 22-year-old Spaniard and extends his current winning streak to 12 matches following his historic Career Grand Slam completion in Melbourne earlier this month.
The world No. 1 produced the shortest completed match of his professional career, firing 18 winners and failing to concede a single break point against his French opponent. The win eclipses last year’s shortest final on the ATP circuit, a 68-minute encounter between Casper Ruud and Ugo Humbert, highlighting the current gulf in class between Alcaraz and the rest of the field.
Alcaraz set the tone immediately, breaking Fils in the opening game and racing through the first set in 28 minutes. His dominance forced Fils into visible frustration, with the Frenchman smashing his racquet after dropping serve twice early in the second set to fall behind 3-0.
While Fils managed to hold serve once in the second set to avoid a total shutout, Alcaraz’s relentless depth and variety proved insurmountable. The Spaniard converted five of seven break points and controlled the baseline rallies with clinical precision, closing out the final set in just 24 minutes.
I came this year hungry for more. After every tournament, we just have to set new goals. I’m just really happy and proud of everything I have done with my team on and off the court. This trophy means a lot to me.
Carlos Alcaraz
Record: 26th career ATP title; 7-time Grand Slam champion.
Streak: 12-0 match record in 2026.
Match duration: 52 minutes (Alcaraz's shortest completed final).
Statistical edge: 18 winners for Alcaraz compared to just 3 for Fils.
Service prowess: Zero break points faced by Alcaraz throughout the match.
For Arthur Fils, currently ranked 40th, the final was a step too far after an impressive week that included victories over top-10 seeds Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka. Having missed eight months of action in 2025 due to a persistent back injury, the 21-year-old’s run to his first final since Tokyo 2024 will see him rise to world No. 33 in the upcoming ATP rankings.
Today was not the day, but I think we did a hell of a job. You played very good, you're a hell of a champion—it's a joke,"
Arthur Fils
Alcaraz’s performance in Qatar reinforces his status as the undisputed leader of the post-Big Three era. Having already secured the Career Grand Slam at just 22 years of age, his ability to transition from the high-pressure environment of the Australian Open to the clinical dispatching of opponents in Doha suggests a season of potentially historic proportions.
