Alcaraz Advances to Quarterfinals at Qatar Open with Tough Win

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open by defeating Luca Nardi 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 on Wednesday. The match featured a pivotal second set where, despite building a 4-1 lead, Alcaraz saw his Italian opponent rally back to force a decider.

After the match, Alcaraz acknowledged his lapse in concentration. “My energy levels probably went down a little bit, but credit to him,” said the 21-year-old Spaniard, reflecting on Nardi’s impressive comeback. Alcaraz, currently ranked third in the world, will face the winner of the match between Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Bublik in the quarterfinals.

In other matches on Wednesday, second-seeded Daniil Medvedev defeated Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-4, setting up a quarterfinal clash against fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev, who eliminated 6-2, 6-1. Medvedev expressed his determination after the victory, stating, “I am looking forward to the next match and giving my best.”

Fourth-seeded Jannik Sinner also advanced with a convincing 6-2, 6-1 win and will meet Cameron Norrie in the final eight. Norrie advanced after a hard-fought match against Alexander Zverev, which ended in a 7-6 (4), 6-7 (6), 6-4 victory.

The Qatar Open, an important stop on the ATP Tour, showcases some of the best talents in tennis and serves as a precursor to the upcoming Grand Slam events.