Everyone had to figure that the Qatar ExxonMobil Open final would be another chapter in the Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner rivalry.
Arthur Fils is glad that that’s not the case.
Jakub Mensik ousted Sinner in the quarterfinals and Fils capitalized on that development by beating the Czech 6-4, 7-6(4) in the semis. The 21-year-old’s reward is a third showdown with Alcaraz, who unsurprisingly leads the head-to-head series 2-0. Alcaraz prevailed twice on clay in 2025 — 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 at the Monte-Carlo Masters and 6-2, 6-4 in the Barcelona semifinals.
The world No. 1 is on an absolute roll to begin this season. His perfect 11-0 record features a first-ever Australian Open title to complete the career Grand Slam followed by Doha victories over Arthur Rinderknech, Valentin Royer, Karen Khachanov (three sets), and Andrey Rublev.
Fils missed the second half of 2025 due to a back injury, but his comeback is probably going better than even he could have expected. The Frenchman advanced to the Montpellier quarterfinals and now finds himself in the championship match of an ATP 500 event following defeats of Mensik, Kamil Majchrzak, Quentin Halys, and Jiri Lehecka.
Unfortunately for Fils, Alcaraz is 25-8 lifetime in ATP final. Since February of 2023, the 22-year-old Spaniard has lost only one final to someone other than Sinner or Novak Djokovic (Holger Rune last spring in Barcelona). Count on Alcaraz lifting yet another trophy on Saturday night.
Pick: Alcaraz in 2