Doha
\n Sinner springs back to form with assertive Doha debut<\/p>\n
Second seed sets Popyrin clash; Medvedev, Mensik, Fils also advance at ATP 500<\/p>\n
February 16, 2026<\/p>\n
Karim JAAFAR \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Jannik Sinner is making his debut at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha this week.
\n By Jerome Coombe<\/p>\n
Jannik Sinner<\/a> began to turn the sting of recent heartbreak into renewed purpose on Monday in Doha, where he thrilled the crowd with a striking debut performance at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open<\/a>.<\/p>\n Two weeks after his five-set defeat to Novak Djokovic<\/a> in the semi-finals of the Australian Open<\/a>, Sinner returned to winning ways with a rock-solid 6-1, 6-4 win over Tomas Machac<\/a> at the hard-court ATP 500 event in Doha. With his 70-minute victory, the second seed extended his winning streak at this level to 11 matches, having won titles in Beijing and Vienna last October.<\/p>\n Dazzling Doha debut \ud83c\udf1f@QatarTennis<\/a> | #qatarexxonmobilopen<\/a> | @janniksin<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/PKZTLAjtKf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) February 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cToday was a little bit worse than yesterday,\u201d Sinner said of the windy Doha conditions. \u201cBut you have to adapt to every situation and condition on the court. We also played a couple of matches before, so I knew a little [about] what to expect. I felt good on court today. Physically I feel good. Every match is going to get tougher, so hopefully I will be ready for the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n During his ruthlessly efficient first-round performance, Sinner dropped just six points on serve, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and expertly handled an explosive start to the second set from Machac. After letting slip three match points on return \u2014 in the ninth game of the second set, which featured scintillating winners from both men \u2014 Sinner sealed the victory with a statement finish behind his own delivery.<\/p>\n With top seed and fierce rival Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> also in the Doha field, Sinner will look to maintain the pair\u2019s stranglehold whenever they share a draw. Since Andrey Rublev<\/a>\u2019s triumph in Madrid in May 2024, no player other than Sinner or Alcaraz has captured a tour-level title at an event featuring both of them.<\/p>\n The No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Sinner will next take on Alexei Popyrin<\/a>, who eased past Qatari wild card Mubarak Shannan Zayid<\/a> 6-0, 6-2.<\/p>\n Daniil Medvedev<\/a> bounced back from his first-round defeat in Rotterdam by earning a clinical 6-4, 6-2 win over Shang Juncheng<\/a> in Doha. The 30-year-old, who triumphed in 2023, is one of three former champions in the draw alongside Andrey Rublev<\/a> and Karen Khachanov<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jakub Mensik<\/a> and Arthur Fils<\/a> also booked their spots in the second round on Monday in Doha, where they rallied to three-set wins. Sixth seed Mensik overcame qualifier Jan Choinski<\/a> 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4 and Fils defeated Kamil Majchrzak<\/a> 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n