Doha Open confirms Carlos Alcaraz: Set for debut alongside seven top-10 players including Djokovic, Sinner and Medvedev

The Qatar Open recently confirmed Carlos Alcaraz's participation in the draw for the first time, joining Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic. The tournament will mark its debut as an ATP 500 event, scheduled from February 15 to 22, featuring an impressive draw with seven top-10 players.

Unlike previous years, when Alcaraz travelled to South America for the Golden Swing in February, competing in tournaments such as the Rio Open and Argentina Open, this time he opted for a change of plans. So far, Alcaraz's early-season schedule mirrors that of Sinner.

Both players have chosen to start their 2024 campaigns at the Australian Open, followed by the Rotterdam Open, and then Doha the week after. They will remain on hard courts ahead of the Sunshine Double in March, where both are set to headline the draws at Indian Wells and the Miami Open.

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Doha Open’s first ATP 500 boasts seven top-10 players

Doha will enjoy the privilege of hosting an incredible draw for its first ATP 500 edition. While Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic had already been confirmed, the 4-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz is now joining them in a tournament that promises thrilling matchups. This is especially true given the participation of other heavyweights like Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Alex De Minaur, and Grigor Dimitrov.

Just a year ago, when the event was still an ATP 250 tournament, it featured only three top-20 players, with Rublev (then ranked No. 5) as the sole top-15 representative. The 2024 champion, Karen Khachanov, will face a much tougher path if he hopes to defend his title in Qatar.

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The tournament has been named ATP 250 Tournament of the Year five times by the players themselves, a key factor in the ATP's decision to upgrade its category. Additionally, the event will offer nearly $2.8 million in prize money, surpassing tournaments like Rio and Rotterdam, which distribute around $2.1 million in total prizes.