Sinner Defeats Popyrin in Doha, Extending ATP 500 Win Streak
– Jannik Sinner continued his impressive form with a composed 6-3, 7-5 victory over Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha. The win marks Sinner’s debut at the tournament and extends his streak of consecutive wins against players outside the Top 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
The second seed faced a challenge from Popyrin, who displayed confidence and aggression throughout the match, firing 16 winners and engaging the crowd with his play. However, Sinner maintained his composure and secured the victory in 85 minutes.
“I respect every player, but I always try to play my best tennis,” Sinner said after the match. “The ranking, at the end of the day, is just a number. Everyone is playing [with] high quality. Especially when the opponents don’t have much to lose, you always have to stay very focused.”
This victory pushes Sinner’s streak to 50 consecutive wins against players ranked outside the Top 50, a run that began after his loss to Dusan Lajovic in Cincinnati in 2023. He has now achieved 12 ATP 500 wins in a row.
Popyrin entered the match having secured his first tour-level victory since the US Open, defeating wild card Mubarak Shannan Zayid in the opening round. Despite this momentum, he was unable to overcome Sinner’s consistency and control.
Sinner noted his strong start in the first set, stating, “I feel like I started off very well in the first set, not so many problems with my service games.” He acknowledged a slight dip in form later in the match, adding, “But after I struggled a bit. I felt like he raised his level and I lost a bit of rhythm and confidence.” According to Infosys ATP Stats, Sinner did not face a break point during the match.
The Italian’s performance in Doha builds on his recent success at the 2025 US Open, where he defeated Popyrin in the second round. Reports from the tournament highlighted Sinner’s “ruthless efficiency” against the Australian, winning the match in straight sets – 6-3, 6-2, and 6-3.
During that US Open match, Popyrin demonstrated resilience, even winning a draining 30-shot rally and attacking the net fearlessly, but ultimately couldn’t break through Sinner’s consistent play. The extended highlights from that match, presented by IHG Hotels & Resorts, showcase Sinner’s dominance.
Sinner’s ability to maintain a high level of play, even when facing aggressive opponents like Popyrin, has established him as a formidable force on hard courts. While Carlos Alcaraz is also a strong contender, some observers believe Sinner is trending toward historically great status on this surface.
Looking ahead, Sinner will face Mensik in the quarter-finals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Fils and Lehecka are also set to compete in the last eight, promising further exciting matches at the tournament.
