Preview ATP Qatar Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz leads as Novak Djokovic’s fitness in question

This Monday, the 2025 Qatar Open in Doha will kick off, running from 17 to 23 February at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. Our preview takes a look at this highly anticipated event, which will feature the return of Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, as well as the shocking last-minute absence of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner after it was revealed that he accepted a three-month suspension to avoid a WADA trial.

The main draw will include five top-10 players and eight from the top 20, making this year’s edition particularly strong, especially considering that the tournament has been upgraded from an ATP 250 to an ATP 500 event. The defending champion is Karen Khachanov, who defeated young Czech star Jakub Mensik in last year’s final.

Top Favourites

Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3) enters the tournament as the top favourite for the title following Sinner’s withdrawal. He leads the top half of the draw and will face former US Open champion Marin Cilic (No. 195) in the opening round. The 21-year-old Spaniard arrives in Doha full of confidence after winning his first indoor hard-court title at the Rotterdam Open two weeks ago. He holds a 9-1 record this season, with his only loss coming in the Australian Open quarter-finals against Novak Djokovic (No. 7).

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The 37-year-old Serbian is also in the top half of the draw, setting up a potential semi-final clash with Alcaraz. The 24-time Grand Slam champion will face a tough first-round challenge against former world No. 6 Matteo Berrettini (No. 35), whom he leads 4-0 in their head-to-head, including their 2021 Wimbledon final.

Djokovic’s fitness remains uncertain after suffering a thigh injury at the Australian Open. While he was initially expected to be sidelined for a couple of months, he has fast-tracked his recovery to compete in Doha, a key stop in his schedule due to his role as a tennis ambassador in Qatar. It wouldn’t be surprising if Djokovic plays cautiously this week.

Carlos Alcaraz at 2024 Rotterdam Open

Second seed Alex de Minaur (No. 8) will take on Roman Safiullin (No. 70) as he looks to build on his impressive start to 2025. The Australian reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and the final in Rotterdam. His only two defeats this year have come against Sinner and Alcaraz, giving him an 8-2 record in 2025.

Another key contender in the bottom half is Daniil Medvedev (No. 4), though his current form is far from intimidating. He has just four wins and three losses this season, all against much lower-ranked opponents. The former world No. 1 will face defending champion Karen Khachanov in one of the most intense first-round matchups, featuring the 2023 and 2024 champions going head-to-head.

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Players to Watch

Sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 11) will open his campaign against Hamad Medjedovic (No. 72), who just reached his first ATP final at the Open 13 Provence after eliminating Medvedev in the semi-finals. The 21-year-old Serbian is beginning to showcase his talent at the ATP level and will face a tough challenge against the Greek, who is struggling with form. This match could be crucial for both players as they look to gain confidence for the rest of the tournament. Tsitsipas, like Medvedev, has also suffered against the new generation this season.

Another key clash will be seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov (No. 13) against world No. 25 Jiri Lehecka, a 23-year-old Czech talent. Lehecka started the season with a title at the Brisbane International, where he faced Dimitrov in the semi-finals – a match the Bulgarian had to retire from due to injury in the second set. Despite this, Lehecka has been impressive at the start of the season, boasting an 8-2 record, with losses only to Djokovic in Australia and a withdrawal against Hurkacz in Rotterdam.

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Similarly, 8th seed Jack Draper (No. 16) will face the 2024 Canadian Open champion Alexei Popyrin (No. 27). The British No. 1 recently suffered an injury that forced him to withdraw mid-match at the Australian Open while facing Carlos Alcaraz. Earlier in the season, he had already withdrawn from the United Cup due to a hip injury, in addition to experiencing back issues during the off-season. Popyrin, on the other hand, arrives in desperate need of results, having suffered three consecutive defeats and still searching for his first win of the season.

Some Records at Qatar Open

• Most Titles, Singles: Roger Federer (3)
• Most Titles, Doubles: Marc López (3)
• Oldest Champion: Roberto Bautista Agut, 33, in 2022
• Youngest Champion: Andy Murray, 20, in 2008
• Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1 Roger Federer (2005-06), No. 1 Rafael Nadal (2014), No. 1 Novak Djokovic (2016)
• Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 124 Rainer Schüttler in 1999
• Last Home Champion: N/A
• Most Match Wins: Roger Federer (27)

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Tournament schedule

• Main Draw: Monday 17 February - Saturday 17 February.
• Monday-Thursday sessions starting at 2:30 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.
• Friday at 2:00 p.m. & 6:00 pm.
• Doubles Final: Saturday 17 February at 3:00 p.m.
• Singles Final: Saturday 17 February at 6:00 p.m.

Main Draw

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