Carlos Alcaraz crushed Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-1 to win the Qatar Open, extending his winning streak to 12 matches after his Australian Open triumph

CARLOS Alcaraz delivered a masterclass to clinch the Qatar Open title with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory over Arthur Fils on Saturday.

The world number one needed just over 50 minutes to secure the 26th ATP title of his career in his first tournament since winning the Australian Open.

“I came this year hungry for more,” said Alcaraz after the match.

“I’m just playing great tennis and I’m really happy about this week. This trophy means a lot to me.”

The seven-time Grand Slam champion has now won 12 consecutive matches, backing up his career Grand Slam completion in Melbourne with a dominant run in Doha.

For the 40th-ranked Fils, the final was a step too far after a fine week that included wins over top-10 seeds Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka.

The Frenchman was competing in his first tour-level final since Tokyo in 2024, a significant milestone after an eight-month injury absence.

“It’s been eight long months with my injury,” Fils said.

“Today was not the day but I think we did a hell of a job.”

His run to the final is projected to lift him to 33rd in the next ATP rankings, a notable climb for the former world number 14.

Alcaraz emphasised the importance of continuous improvement following his latest triumph.

“I think after every tournament, we just have to set new goals,” he stated.

“I’m just really happy and proud of everything I have done with my team on and off the court.”

 The Sun Malaysia