Alcaraz would go behind in a first set tiebreaker and had to cool off if he was going to get back into this match. The Australian Open champion managed this feat with two breaks of serve, one in each set, as he took down the 2024 champion and kept his title chances on. He is still yet to lose a match in 2026.
Alcaraz not happy about the rule
The seven-time Grand Slam champion spoke to a few Spanish media outlets after the match as he exerted his disbelief and anger on the rule. “Honestly, I think the time rule is absurd,” he began. “After a very demanding point, finishing at the net, sprinting to my towel, I practically had no time left.
He explained the situation from his point of view. “She (the chair umpire) told me she stopped the clock when I was on my towel, but from then until I called for the balls and prepared to serve, I had no time to spare,” he said. “To me, that makes no sense. Besides, the crowd was still shouting and cheering, which also causes delays. I looked at the clock when there were three or four seconds left and I didn’t have enough time to serve, but she still gave me a warning.”
He asked for more leniency and a more relaxed view on the rule. “Personally, I think there should be a bit more leniency, even a reconsideration of the rule, because in such tough matches, the same thing always happens, and to me, it’s ridiculous.”
Different players have different serve routines which could put them under more pressure to get it completed. This is another argument Alcaraz puts forward in his desperate plea to change the rule. “Yes, I think many players feel the same way. Some are faster, and others have slightly slower routines. I try to adapt as much as possible, and in many matches, I know I have to respect the time, so I change my routine: I call for fewer balls, I move faster, I bounce the ball less if I see I’m running out of time.
Carlos Alcaraz celebrates point at the Qatar Open 2026
However, he believes his argument is in vain. “But tennis is also about entertainment,” he acknowledged. “The ATP says it wants to attract more people, to broaden its audience. If they don’t allow us time to recover between points to offer the best possible level, everything goes too fast, and it’s difficult to engage the crowd. I think the umpires should be more flexible or, better yet, add a few more seconds to the clock. With a little more leeway, we can prepare better to put on a show on every point.”
Tough battle against Khachanov
Most tennis fans are used to seeing Alcaraz streak away from his opponents, coming out on top as the winner comfortably on most occasions. They witnessed a treat last night where Alcaraz showed his grit and determination among with endless amount of class to take down the Russian in a thrilling contest.
“We know what these players are like and we prepare for it,” Alcaraz stated. “With certain opponents, you know the level they’re going to show, and that there will be a battle. Today it was, very much so. I’m happy to have been able to play at such a high level in a match like this against Karen again.”
It is a sixth win out of six against Khachanov, one more than his perfect record against Arthur Rinderknech who is now at 5-0 after Alcaraz dumped him out in Doha earlier this week. Despite these dominant records, he plays down those winning streaks.
“The truth is, especially against Rinderknech and Khachanov, the matches have always been tough and very close,” he said. “Since I have certain opponents who serve as a reference point for me to improve, they perhaps see me the same way: as a mirror to see what they can do better. That makes me happy, because tennis is about evolving, about progressing. They try to do that, and so do I. I’m happy to experience these situations with players of this level, and if they see me as someone who helps them improve, I’m very proud.”
The 22-year-old got a massive boost after his win as he witnessed his rival, Jannik Sinner, exit the tournament at the quarterfinal stage against the talented Jakub Mensik. That possible final clash will not occur, with Alcaraz fully focusing on reaching that stage. He is set to take on the reigning champion Andrey Rublev to reach a maiden final in Qatar.