Carlos Alcaraz dismantled defending champion Andrey Rublev in straight sets, 7-6 (3), 6-4, to reach the final of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. The world No. 1 moved to 11-0 in 2026 and advanced to his second final of the season in a two hours and two minutes contest.

Alcaraz, 22, returned to competition for the first time since completing the Career Grand Slam at the Australian Open and produced a composed performance on Center Court. He took the opening set in a tiebreak and, after failing to serve out the match, secured the victory by breaking one game later.

Rublev, the No. 5 seed who lifted the Doha trophy in 2025, has beaten Alcaraz previously but has now dropped four straight matches to the Spaniard despite two close sets on Friday.

Hopes of a first “Sincaraz” final of 2026 ended earlier when No. 2 seed Jannik Sinner was upset in the quarterfinals by Jakub Mensik. Mensik will meet Arthur Fils in the other semifinal, setting up the opponent for the Doha final.

The victory leaves Alcaraz poised to extend his points advantage over Sinner to at least 3080, with the margin set to widen further should he complete a 12-0 run by lifting the Doha title.

Earlier in the week Alcaraz rallied from a set down in a three-set comeback against No. 7 seed Karen Khachanov. That match included a flashpoint when Alcaraz criticised the ATP time violation rules after receiving a warning for exceeding the 25 seconds allotted between points.

On Friday he tightened his game when it mattered, converting the key moments in the tiebreak and the decisive break to move into the final and keep his unbeaten start to the season intact.

Ben Shelton’s words after the Dallas Open final were simple and revealing: “This is one of my favorite atmospheres I ever played in,” he said after winning the title at the Dallas Open on Sunday. The 23-year-old has already met the game’s highest moments — Novak Djokovic in a US Open semifinal, Jannik Sinner on Centre Court, Carlos Alcaraz in Court Philippe Chatrier and appearances in Davis Cup, Laver Cup and the NCAA championships — yet he singled out the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, a 12,000-seat arena, for its energy. Fans packed the house for each of his five wins, and the runner-up, Taylor Fritz, echoed the praise.

That enthusiasm matters because it points to a broader change: ATP 500 tournaments are finding a distinct identity. Positioned between Grand Slams and ATP 250s, 500s now offer a clearer alternative to the 1000s. During the Big 3 era the 500s often felt closer to a lower tier; the Slams and 1000s were the fixed targets for top players, with the 1000s mandatory for two-week preparation and exposure. But structural changes on tour have reshuffled priorities.

The One Vision plan of 2023 extended most 1000s from nine to 12 days. Initially that looked like a further tilt toward the top events, yet it also sharpened what a 500 can be. The 500s retain 32-player draws with no byes, requiring champions to win five matches in seven days, and ensuring top players often begin competition early in the week. The ATP increased the number of 500 events from 13 to 16, with Dallas and Doha added in 2025, and boosted the 500-level bonus pool to $3.07 million to split among the top six finishers.

Appearance fees, which Slams and 1000s cannot offer, have also changed the mix: “Alcaraz and Sinner were each paid $1.2 to show up in Doha,” the draft notes. The tour mandated Top 30 players to play five 500s in 2025; that requirement fell to four in 2026, including one after the US Open, giving players choice and creating variety in draws.

The expanded 1000s have faced criticism for reducing rest and scheduling flexibility. Still, the push to create more compelling events stands. As one line put it, “bigger is better,” and the altered landscape has handed the 500s a clearer role.

Carlos Alcaraz voiced frustration over a time violation warning during his quarterfinal at the Doha ExxonMobil Open after an extended rally with Karen Khachanov. The world No. 1 had just outfoxed his No. 7th-seeded rival at the net and was serving at 4-4 in the first set when the dispute occurred.

Umpire Marija Cicak issued the warning after Alcaraz exceeded the 25 seconds meant to be taken between points. As the player walked to the back of the court to retrieve his towel, Cicak said she had reset the clock only after that action, prompting Alcaraz to question the ruling on court.

“I’m not allowed to go to the towel?” asked an incredulous world No. 1. The pair continued to debate the matter during the changeover, with Alcaraz requesting that the violation be canceled. He was playing his first tournament since capturing the Career Grand Slam at the 2026 Australian Open.

Cicak remained firm in her explanation. “I can’t invent more time,” explained Cicak. The exchange highlighted the tight timing rules that govern the interval between points and the limited discretion officials have once a clock has been managed.

The incident came at a pivotal moment in the opening set and drew attention for its timing, occurring immediately after one of the match’s longer rallies. Alcaraz’s reaction was a rare public display of frustration in a match where he had just successfully used the net to win a point against a seeded opponent. The warning stood, and the players resumed play following the changeover and the discussion on court.