After the disappointment of losing in the Australian Open semi-final, Jannik Sinner is looking to win his very first Qatar Open.
The world number two has bizarrely never played the ATP 500 event and he will be looking for a brand-new trophy in his career.
Sinner is not defending any ranking points for the next three months, so he has a massive opportunity to catch Carlos Alcaraz up in the race for world number one.
Sinner is always one of the top favourites for any tournament he plays, but the Italian could struggle in Qatar.
Jannik Sinner will have to perform better in the heat if he wants to win Qatar
The Italian has arrived in Qatar and has already partaken in a practise session alongside Daniil Medvedev, where temperatures in Doha were similar to those of the Australian Open.
Temperatures nearly hit 35°C in Doha, so Sinner could come up against one of his biggest weaknesses in tennis.
The star struggled with the intense heat in Melbourne, particularly against Eliot Spizzirri in the third round of the Australian Open.
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Sinner was a set and a break down against the American and he looked like he was about to exit the competition, before the heat index saved him and the roof was closed.
The Italian has previously struggled in the heat at the Shanghai Masters, where he retired against Tallon Griekspoor.
If the heat continues to increase at the tournament, it could be a real leveller for the rest of the players on the ATP Tour.
Sinner will need to dramatically improve in the heat or his barren run in 2026 could continue into another month.
Jannik Sinner is confident he can perform in the Qatar heat
Despite an air of uncertainty surrounding Sinner heading into Qatar, the Italian is confident he can still perform well at the ATP 500 event.
Speaking after his first training session, the world number two revealed: “It’s hot. But nothing incredible, not like in Australia or other places more dry.
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“At night, it can be hot but it can also be chilly. Depends from day to day, and the wind, for now everything is good.”
Sinner will begin his campaign with a potential banana skin tie against Tomas Machac in the first round of the Qatar Open.
The Italian has also been drawn in the same section of the draw as Alexander Bublik, Jakub Mensik, Jiri Lehecka, and Arthur Fils.
