“Right now, I’m not at his level”: Arthur Fils apologetic after heavy Doha final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz

Arthur Fils did not attempt to disguise the scale of his defeat after falling to Carlos Alcaraz in under an hour in the Qatar Open final. The 6-2, 6-1 loss, completed in less than 50 minutes, marked the shortest finished match of Alcaraz’s career and extended the Spaniard’s unbeaten start to the 2026 season.

For Fils, the final was his first at tour level since Tokyo in 2024 and the highlight of a week that lifted him seven places to No. 33 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. Yet in the immediate aftermath, the 19-year-old Frenchman focused less on ranking gains and more on the gap exposed by the world No. 1.

Alcaraz converted five of seven break points and dictated play from the first game. Fils struggled to hold serve and was repeatedly forced onto the defensive. The contest was effectively decided within the opening half hour as Alcaraz imposed relentless pressure.

Speaking after the match, Fils adopted a direct and self-critical tone. Rather than searching for excuses, he acknowledged that he was clearly second best and that he remains short of the level required to challenge the top-ranked Spaniard.

Asked to analyse the match, Fils admitted he did not reproduce the standard that had carried him through earlier rounds in Doha. He was unequivocal in assessing the difference between himself and Alcaraz. “I didn’t play as well as I did this week,” mentioned the former world No. 14. “But he’s the number one, he hasn’t lost a match since the beginning of the year, and you understand why.

The Frenchman described the match as “very fast,” pointing to the immediate scoreboard pressure and the intensity Alcaraz brings from the baseline. “Right now, I’m on another level, and I’m not at his level at all. I have to work on it, but right now, I’m simply not at his level. He’s playing very, very well, and I have nothing to say.”

Fils said competing with a player of that calibre requires “almost everything,” underlining how comprehensive the challenge is. “What do you need to compete with a player like that? Almost everything. It’s a very fast match, he puts a lot of pressure on me from the beginning, he plays well, it was a bit complicated. These things happen. We’ll have to watch the match and see how it goes.”

Despite the heavy defeat, Fils framed his week within the broader context of his comeback from a back fracture that kept him sidelined for eight months. Reaching a final after that layoff, he said, remains significant. “It’s all about mentality; the goal is to keep a positive attitude. A final after an eight-month break like this feels good. Today was a bit more complicated, much more complicated in fact, but these things happen and you have to move on.”

He also reflected on the recovery period that preceded his return, thanking his team for guiding him back to this stage. “It’s been eight long months with my injury. So in a time like this, you just have to think about the last eight months when I was struggling, not playing tennis. I just want to thank my team… Today was not the day but I think we did a hell of a job.”

Fils is entered next week in Dubai, where he is scheduled to face Jiri Lehecka in the opening round. Whether he competes or opts to rest before Indian Wells will be decided with his team. After a sobering final in Doha, his priority, by his own admission, is to “work on it” and close the gap revealed in less than an hour.

Carlos Alcaraz, the winner of the Qatar Open final, acknowledged the resilience of his opponent despite the one-sided scoreline. Speaking after the match, Alcaraz framed the contest not solely in terms of victory but in the context of Fils’ comeback from a prolonged injury layoff. "Arthur, it’s a pleasure to share the court with you man. I told you that more than making results and everything, for me it makes me really happy seeing you on the court once again. I know you struggled physically."

The Spaniard highlighted both the mental and physical challenges his young rival had overcome, emphasizing the value of perseverance on the tour. "You struggled with injuries. I’ve been through that. To be able to forget that and start again, playing such great tennis… making finals, it makes me really happy to share the court, locker, and tournament with you. Great job with your team and family as well. Keep going. For sure we’re gonna share great moments.”