Carlos Alcaraz overcomes walls and difficulties with the confidence of someone who knows he is superior and who has a champion mode that he activates whenever he wants so that the game becomes his. There was the consistency of Arthur Rinderknech, the ease of Valentin … Royer and the good intentions of Karen Khachanov, who was even able to win a set. But Alcaraz is above all that and more, and in the semifinals of the ATP 500 in Doha with the feeling that the rivals are going to have to do a lot, a lot, if they want to deactivate him. Andrey Rublev is going to try.
The Russian is a good swordsman and has a hammer for hand. Although he gets disoriented at times and does not have the mental capacity to endure the battle for long. Alcaraz does, who moves around this Doha track with ease and grace. His feet are everywhere and take him to all corners, as he demonstrated in several moments of the match against Khachanov.
«I suffered in some moments against Karen, but I fought and found the rhythm. I know that in tennis you have to overcome tests. Sometimes it is very difficult to close the sets, the matches. I had to stay there. Khachanov is a very tough opponent, very solid from the baseline and with a powerful serve, but I have found solutions when I needed it most and I have kept my focus on the victory,” he commented after the victory against the Russian.
So Rublev, 14th in the world, will have to use everything he has to be able to unbalance the Spaniard, who has accumulated 10 consecutive wins in 2026 and 152 on fast tracks in his career. «After the Australian Open, I am highly motivated. I don’t want to lose, I don’t want to feel that feeling of defeat. “I am ambitious and each game requires me to be one hundred percent,” he continued.
Rublev also arrives well, with convincing victories against Jesper de Jong (6-4 and 6-3), Fabian Marozsan (6-2 and 6-4) and Stefanos Tsitsipas (6-3 and 7-6 (2)), and at least, he does have a victory in his favor in the face to face with the Murcian. It happened in Madrid, in 2024, when the Russian, sick and almost unable to swallow all week, focused all his energy on hitting the ball and not only knocked down the Murcian (4-6, 6-3 and 6-3), but ended up taking the trophy home. At 28 years old, he has 17 titles, with this Madrid Masters 1,000 and the Monte Carlo one in 2023 as his best rewards.
But Alcaraz, seven Grand Slams and 18 other trophies, has won the other four precedents: in the ATP Finals 2023 (7-5 and 6-2) and 2024 (6-3 and 7-6 (8)), round of 16 of Wimbledon 2025 (6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 and 6-4 and quarterfinals of Cincinnati 2025 (6-3, 4-6 and 7-5).
At what time does Carlos Alcaraz play the semifinal match of the ATP 500 in Doha?
The match between Carlos Alcaraz and Karen Khachanov is scheduled for this Friday, February 20, in the afternoon. It will start no earlier than 5.30pm.
Where to watch the Alcaraz match on television and online today
The match between Alcaraz and Rublev is broadcast on Movistar+a platform that has the rights to the ATP 500 in Doha.
And you can follow minute by minute and all the information about the tournament on ABC.es
