Italy's Jannik Sinner greets the fans after defeating Australia's Alexei Popyrin in their men singles match at the Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha on February 18, 2026. (Photo by Karim JAAFAR / AFP)
Doha, Qatar: World number two Jannik Sinner booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open with a straight-set victory over Australia's Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday.
Playing at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, the 24-year-old Italian secured a 6-3 7-5 win in the second round of the ATP 500 event.
Sinner, a 24-time career title winner including four Grand Slam crowns, controlled much of the encounter but was tested in the second set before sealing victory in one hour and 36 minutes.
Fifth seed Andrey Rublev, the defending champion, also progressed with a 6-2 6-4 win over Hungary's Fabian Marozsan. Another Russian, Karen Khachanov, seeded seventh and champion in 2024, advanced after a 6-2 4-6 6-4 victory against Hungary's Marton Fucsovics.
However, fourth seed Daniil Medvedev, who lifted the title in 2023, was eliminated following a 6-3 6-4 defeat by Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Czech sixth seed Jakub Mensik moved into the last eight with a 6-3 6-2 win over China's Zhang Zhizhen.
He was joined in the quarter-finals by compatriot Jiri Lehecka, the eighth seed, who eased past Belgium's Zizou Bergs 6-2 6-1.
France's Arthur Fils also progressed after defeating fellow Frenchman Quentin Halys 6-1 7-6. Later on Wednesday, world number one and top seed Carlos Alcaraz was due to face France's Valentin Royer, ranked 60th in the world, for the final place in the quarter-finals.
