Doha’s two-week tennis festival concluded on Saturday night with the ATP Qatar ExxonMobil Open, capping a period that has firmly placed the city on the global tennis map over the years. From the WTA 1000 Qatar TotalEnergies Open to the ATP 500 event, fans were treated to world-class competition and a star-studded line-up that showcased both established champions and rising talent.
The WTA Qatar TotalEnergies Open, which preceded the men’s tournament, delivered dramatic storylines throughout the week. Karolina Muchova captured her first WTA 1000 crown - and her first title since 2019 - with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Canadian teen sensation Victoria Mboko in the final. The title lifted her ranking from 19 to 11, while Mboko’s runner-up finish guarantees her entry into the top 10 tomorrow, highlighting her breakthrough season and 13 wins so far. Muchova praised her young opponent after the match, saying: “You play with so much maturity. I’m sure you have many titles ahead of you.”
The ATP Qatar ExxonMobil Open continued the momentum, with top seed Carlos Alcaraz returning fresh from his Australian Open triumph and second seed Jannik Sinner making his Doha debut. Alcaraz extended his winning run by defeating Frenchman Arthur Fils in Saturday’s final. Sinner, meanwhile, was upset by Czech player Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals. The Italian was widely tipped to ease past his opponent but fell in three sets to the world No. 16. The men’s draw also featured Alexander Bublik, Andrey Rublev, Karen Khachanov and Mensik, ensuring depth and compelling match-ups throughout the week.
President of the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel and Badminton Federation, Nasser bin Ghanim Al Khelaifi, said the Qatar ExxonMobil Open for men remains a cornerstone of the ATP Tour and reflects Qatar’s commitment to sporting excellence for over three decades. He noted that the event has built a prestigious reputation by attracting the world’s top players while maintaining the highest technical and organisational standards. Across both weeks, the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex became a hub for elite tennis. Doha successfully hosted two consecutive world-class tournaments, drawing engaged crowds and showcasing some of the sport’s brightest stars.
The tennis fortnight formed part of a broader, busy February for Qatari sport. Qatar National Sport Day, the Lusail Half Marathon, equestrian events at Al Shaqab, the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters golf tournament, the Qatar International Rally and Amir Cup football matches all contributed to a packed sporting calendar. Within that mix, Doha’s back-to-back tournaments offered uninterrupted high-level tennis, adding thrills and drama for fans from the first serve to the final point.
