Carlos Alcaraz secured his 26th ATP title after defeating Arthur Fils in a one-sided Qatar Open final.
Alcaraz wasted little time imposing his will on the contest, eventually defeating Fils 6-2, 6-1 in just 50 minutes.
Alcaraz has now won the same number of ATP 500 titles as Andy Murray – a two-time Wimbledon champion.
The Spaniard’s performance was so impressive that it prompted Fils to state that he lacks ‘almost everything’ to be able to compete with Alcaraz.
Which member of the ‘Big Three’ is Carlos Alcaraz most similar to? Let us know why below👇
Alcaraz’s performance was impressive in more ways than one, as he equalled a striking Rafael Nadal accomplishment from 2019.
Carlos Alcaraz lost only three games to Arthur Fils in the Qatar Open final
As per OptaAce, Carlos Alcaraz lost the fewest games in an ATP 500 or above completed final on hard court since Rafael Nadal at the 2019 Canadian Open.
Nadal, seeded first at the event, defeated Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-0 to win his fifth Canadian Open title.
During his post-match press conference, Medvedev described Nadal’s performance as ‘incredible.’
When asked if he felt the pressure of playing a member of the big three, Medvedev replied: “Actually not that much because I played Roger two times, Novak four times. I knew how it’s going to be. I was kind of ready for it.
“Then didn’t manage to probably show my best tennis, but at the same time Rafa was I think incredible today.
“I need to see the match on the TV to say for sure, but congrats to him. I need to do better next time.”
Alcaraz has matched Nadal’s feat seven years later, and he could go on to match many more if he continues to perform at this level for the next decade.
This is far from the first time Alcaraz has rivalled a statistic led by Nadal. After all, Alcaraz became the youngest man to complete the Career Grand Slam in men’s singles after winning the 2026 Australian Open, usurping Nadal’s previously held record.
What next for Alcaraz?
Unsurprisingly, Alcaraz is not set to compete in any ATP Tour events this week after winning the Qatar Open.
Alcaraz has chosen to forgo the Dubai Tennis Championships and Acapulco Open to properly prepare for the Indian Wells Masters.
Alcaraz has played at the Indian Wells Masters five times during his career, winning the tournament in 2023 and 2024.
Carlos Alcaraz’s record at the Indian Wells Masters
| Year | Round Reached | Final opponent at the event |
| 2021 | Second Round | Andy Murray |
| 2022 | Semi-finals | Rafael Nadal |
| 2023 | Champion | Daniil Medvedev |
| 2024 | Champion | Daniil Medvedev |
| 2024 | Semi-finals | Jack Draper |
Last year, Alcaraz was unable to win the title for a third consecutive year, losing to Jack Draper in the semi-finals: 1-6, 6-0, 4-6.
Draper went on to win the title in California, beating Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in the final.
