Doha, February 16, 2026 — Jannik Sinner made an emphatic return to action at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, brushing aside Tomáš Macháč 6-1, 6-4 in the first round at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Monday.
The World No. 2 needed just 27 minutes to seal the opening set, overwhelming Macháč with precision baseline hitting and relentless pressure on serve. In a commanding display, Sinner dropped only six points on serve throughout the entire match, underlining his dominance on the Doha hard courts.
Macháč, ranked No. 31 in the world, entered the contest in solid form, carrying a 7–3 record for the 2026 season and fresh from a title triumph at the Adelaide International in January. However, the Czech was unable to penetrate Sinner’s defensive wall or disrupt his rhythm during key moments.
Sinner, who returned to competition in Doha following a semi-final exit at the Australian Open, improved his 2026 record to 5–1 with the victory. The Italian has now extended his perfect head-to-head record over Macháč to 3–0, having won all their encounters in straight sets on outdoor hard courts. Their previous meetings came at the Miami Open quarter-finals and the Shanghai Masters semi-finals in 2024, both ending in comfortable wins for Sinner.
Despite a more competitive second set, where Macháč found greater consistency on serve, Sinner maintained control from the baseline and capitalized on crucial break-point opportunities to close out the match in straight sets.
With the win, Sinner advances to the second round in Doha, where he will face Australia’s Alexei Popyrin. The matchup promises to test Sinner’s early-season form as he seeks to build momentum in the ATP 500 event.
For now, the Italian star has sent a clear message to the rest of the field: he is sharp, focused, and ready to contend in Doha.
Head-to-Head Record
Jannik Sinner leads the head-to-head series 3–0, winning all encounters in straight sets on outdoor hard courts.
| Date | Tournament | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 16, 2026 | Doha | Round of 32 | Jannik Sinner | 6-1, 6-4 |
| Oct 12, 2024 | Shanghai Masters | Semi-finals | Jannik Sinner | 6-4, 7-5 |
| Mar 27, 2024 | Miami Open | Quarter-finals | Jannik Sinner | 6-4, 6-2 |
Player Comparison (as of Feb 16, 2026)
- Jannik Sinner (World No. 2):Returned to competition in Doha following a semi-final exit at the Australian Open. He holds a 5–1 record for the 2026 season.
- Tomáš Macháč (World No. 31):Has a 7–3 record in 2026, including a title win at the Adelaide International in January.
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