Sinner and Alcaraz still on course to meet in Qatar final

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz could square up  in the Qatar Open final after they both claimed straight-set wins today.

The No. 1 player in the ATP Rankings won 6-2, 7-5 against France’s Valentin Royer but needed a strong finish to win in straight sets

Alcaraz reeled off five consecutive games from 2-5 down in the second set, raising his level in typically forceful fashion to deliver a second-round win in 96-minutes.

Alcaraz and Sinner met in six finals last year, three times at Grand Slam level with world number one Alcaraz winning the French and US Opens.

“Obviously I had to be prepared for everything,” said Alcaraz, when asked if he ever doubted he could secure the win. “There were some moments when I thought about a third set, I’m not going to lie, but obviously it was just a small place in my mind that was thinking that.

The rest was working to find solutions, to find the right way again.

“I’m just really pleased and really happy I was able to find good rhythm again, and good tennis.

It’s just about fighting. I know tennis. It’s just about one point, and sometimes it is really difficult to close out the set or the match. I just had to stay there, and I’m happy I turned it around and got the win in straight sets.”