'I'm really proud': Carlos Alcaraz survives Rublev scare to reach Qatar Open final

The World No 1 sealed a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 victory under the lights, converting his sixth match point after two hours and two minutes to maintain his unbeaten start to the 2026 season.

Alcaraz twice failed to serve out the opening set before eventually prevailing in the tie-break, and later saw an early 3-0 lead in the second set disappear, as Rublev proved very resilient.

At 5-3, the Spaniard missed three match points on serve as Rublev broke back, but Alcaraz responded immediately, breaking again and holding his nerve to close out the match.

"I know what I am able to do every time I step on the court, what I am capable of doing. The way that I am approaching every match, I'm just really proud about it," Alcaraz said after the testing encounter.

"If you want to find a solution to a problem, you should find it in a calm place. In these matches, I have been really calm, thinking clearly and being positive."

Alcaraz will face France's Arthur Fils in Saturday's championship match, after he reached the final by defeating sixth seed Jakub Mensik 6-4, 7-5.

The 21-year-old Frenchman produced a composed performance to dispatch Mensik, who was coming off a stunning quarter-final upset of World No 2 Jannik Sinner.

Fils is contesting his first final since winning the ATP 500 title in Tokyo in 2024, following an eight-month absence due to a back injury.

"It's been a tough journey. Eight months without playing tennis, just watching the other guys battling... but now it feels even better when I am coming back like this."

On facing Alcaraz, Fils added: "If you believe, then maybe you can do it, so I believe 100 per cent. I'm coming on court to fight."

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