Rivals Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz remain on a collision course at the Qatar Open after securing straight-set victories on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals.
World number two Sinner defeated Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-3 7-5, marking his 22nd win in 23 matches.
The Italian, who has reached the quarter-finals in 28 of his last 30 tournaments, will next face sixth seed Jakub Mensik.
World number one Alcaraz joined him in the last eight with a 6-2 7-5 win over France’s Valentin Royer.
The Spaniard now moves on to face Karen Khachanov, who outlasted Marton Fucsovics in three sets.
The potential final would revisit the defining rivalry of 2025, a season that saw Sinner and Alcaraz face off in six different finals.
