Alcaraz isn’t alone: Sinner matches rival's serve focus forward of Doha…

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Alcaraz isn’t alone: Sinner matches rival’s serve focus forward of Doha…

Italian faces Tomas Machac within the first spherical

February 16, 2026

A lot has been made in regards to the work Carlos Alcaraz has executed on his serve. However the Spaniard will not be the one one specializing in the very important stroke. Jannik Sinner revealed on Sunday forward of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open that he’s emphasising his serve forward of his first ATP 500 occasion of the season.

“Actually in the meanwhile [we are working] on the standard stuff. Making an attempt to get a really stable serve in the meanwhile, which is what we work lots on,” Sinner stated throughout his pre-tournament press convention in Doha. “Additionally lots within the gymnasium, the gymnasium periods are essential. I attempt to make an additional step ahead in that state of affairs and that’s it.”

Sinner is the second seed this week in Doha, the place he leads the sphere alongside the No. 1 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings Alcaraz. The Italian is competing for the primary time since he suffered a semi-final defeat to Novak Djokovic on the Australian Open final month, when he made 75 per cent of his first deliveries and received 80 per cent of these factors, based on Infosys Stats.

Whereas the loss was a disappointment, the Italian was eager to emphasize that the work undertaken within the fortnight since has been constructing on the foundations laid through the group’s pre-season coaching block in Dubai.

“The season has began. Quite a lot of the work we have now executed was within the offseason,” Sinner stated. “Now in fact we attempt to preserve working, but additionally to keep up the extent of health, too. I feel every little thing goes fairly properly. After all it is advisable to play some matches, making an attempt to have one of the best suggestions.”

That suggestions loop, apply depth translating into match efficiency, will information his week in Doha as a lot as outcomes.

“From my standpoint, it additionally relies upon how the apply periods go. When you really feel very properly there, you wish to produce the identical depth additionally within the match,” Sinner stated. “If sure issues don’t work properly within the apply session, you attempt to be barely higher than within the apply session. So it relies upon, however on the identical time I’m right here making an attempt to go so far as attainable. On the identical time, making an attempt to enhance after which see what’s working properly right here.”

Sinner is making his debut on the ATP 500 occasion in Doha, the place he’ll open in opposition to Czech Tomas Machac. The World No. 2, who leads Machac 2-0 within the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head collection, is worked up for the week, having loved success within the metropolis prior to now.

“Some years in the past I received a junior event, so it’s a really acquainted place,” Sinner stated. “Clearly a distinct degree now taking part in the five hundred occasion right here. However I’m very excited and let’s see what’s coming.”

Sinner trails World No. 1 Alcaraz by 2,750 factors within the PIF ATP Stay Rankings. Nonetheless, the Italian has no factors to defend between now and Rome in Could.