Arthur Fils will face Carlos Alcaraz in the Doha Open final after the 21-year-old Frenchman defeated sixth seed Jakub Mensik 6-4, 7-6(4). Mensik had impressed in the quarter-finals by upsetting Jannik Sinner, but he was unable to replicate that level against Fils.

This marks Fils’ first tour-level final since his ATP 500 triumph in Tokyo in 2024. Despite the Czech’s strong recent form, Fils produced a composed straight-sets performance to claim victory.

“It’s been a tough journey,” Fils admitted, reflecting on his return from an eight-month layoff due to a back injury. “Eight months without playing tennis, just watching the other guys battling… Staying in my bed and doing recovery was very long. My team knows how tough it was, but now it feels even better when I am coming back like this. To be back in a final, it means a lot.”

Ranked 40th in the world, Fils recently added 2001 Goran Ivanisevic to his coaching team and is optimistic about his chances against Alcaraz, despite having lost both of their previous meetings on clay.

“If you believe, then maybe you can do it, so I believe 100 per cent,” said Fils. “Let’s see tomorrow on the court but for sure I am coming on court to fight.”