The last climb

What a pleasure to see Arthur already at this level, enough for a feat today?

Alcaraz reaches the final of the Doha tournament still unbeaten this season, but his run this week leaves a more mixed impression than usual. Match after match, the Spaniard has been pushed, often forced to dig deep. The level of play is still high, but you can tell he’s not at 100% of his potential, with a certain haste in his offensive choices and phases where he forces things more than he usually does. He’s winning, but without really outclassing his opponents.

On the other side, Fils continues to impress. His win over Mensik was fully deserved, against an opponent who was indeed a bit worn out after his huge exploit the day before, but above all outplayed by the Frenchman’s power, intensity and consistency. Fils served very well, took control of the rallies whenever possible, and showed remarkable tactical maturity in the key moments.

This tournament confirms that Fils is already back to a very high level. He’s a born competitor, a player who feeds off this kind of stage and who specifically looks to test himself against the best.

In a final against Alcaraz, he clearly won’t just be a spectator. His commitment, his ability to accelerate on the forehand side and his mental toughness suggest that he is perfectly equipped to produce another big performance.

In this context, everything points to a tightly contested final. Alcaraz remains the clear favorite due to his status and talent, but the momentum of the week, combined with Fils’s current form, makes a one-sided match seem unlikely.

Both players should be neck and neck, with potentially long and hard-fought sets.