Sam Querrey and Jack Sock Think Carlos Alcaraz Should’ve Earned More Qatar Open Appearance Fees Than Jannik Sinner: “He Sells Tickets”

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will next be seen in action at the Indian Wells Masters.

Sam Querrey and Jack Sock Think Carlos Alcaraz Should’ve Earned More Qatar Open Appearance Fees Than Jannik Sinner: “He Sells Tickets”

Sam Querrey (circle, left) and Jack Sock (circle, right) think Carlos Alcaraz (r) should've received more appearance fees than Jannik Sinner (l) (Image via Sky Sports, ATP Tour, X/Jannik Sinner HQ, Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

In Short
  • Sam Querrey and Jack Sock believe Carlos Alcaraz should have received higher appearance fees than Jannik Sinner at the Qatar Open.
  • Alcaraz earned $1.2 million in appearance fees, while his prize money was $529,945 after winning the tournament.
  • Both players are set to compete in the Sunshine Doubles starting March 4, with Sinner aiming for his first final appearance.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz played the Qatar Open after their Australian Open campaigns. As per La Gazzetta dello Sport, they both earned $1.2 million as appearance fees for participating in the Doha ATP 500 event.

It was more than double of what Alcaraz took home as prize money, $529,945, after defeating Arthur Fils in the final. While discussing the same on the Nothing Major podcast, both Sam Querrey and Jack Sock agreed that Alcaraz should have received more appearance fees than Sinner.

“They are getting the same. Carlos should be getting a little more,” Querrey said, and Sock shared the same opinion, saying, “He definitely puts more of a show, sells more tickets.”

The four-time Grand Slam champion did not live up to the hype because of his quarterfinals exit. He lost to 2025 Miami Open champion Jakub Mensik in three sets, losing back-to-back tournaments without reaching the final for the first time since 2024.

The seven-time Major champion, by winning the Doha title, extended his winning streak to 12 matches because prior to the Middle East Swing, he lifted his career’s first Australian Open trophy by upsetting Novak Djokovic in the final. It was the 38-year-old who spoiled Sinner’s three-peat dream with a five-set win in the semifinals.

Both players will be back for the Sunshine Doubles, which will kick off on March 4 at Indian Wells. Sinner will be bidding to reach the final for the first time, having lost two back-to-back semifinals (2023 and 2024), while Alcaraz will be aiming to add his third title to his trophy cabinet.

Next in Miami, Alcaraz, who lost in the first round last year, is a former champion (2022), and so is Sinner (2024). But the Italian skipped both the Masters 1000 events last year due to his doping ban.

Jamie Delgado backs Jack Draper to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

Because Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been dominating since the 22024 season, the tennis world has been wondering who would be the ‘third guy’ to break their dominance. Joao Fonseca, Jakub Mensik, and Learner Tien, among others, are among the players mentioned as those who could consistently challenge the top two.

Jack Draper US Open 2025 arm injury
Jack Draper (image via Matt Fitzgerald)

Jamie Delgado has full belief in his protege, Draper’s abilities. Draper reached a career-best No.4 ranking last year after his successful run at Indian Wells and a runner-up finish at the Miami Open. Delgado said during his interview with Sky Sports:

It could be Jack. Why not? That’s the way I’m thinking and seeing it. That’s the way he’s seeing it as well. You never know who it’s going to be, but there’s no reason why it can’t be Jack. I think he’s shown enough, already, for people to rightfully think it might be him. He went on a path of winning a 250 event, then 500, he won a Masters series, he’s been in a semifinals of a Grand Slam. He has had wins over Carlos.

Draper currently sits in the 15th spot in the rankings table as he was forced to skip the remainder of the 2025 season after his first-round US Open match due to an arm injury. He is currently playing the Dubai Tennis Championships, his first singles tournament since the New York Slam. Prior to the Dubai ATP 500 event, he had played a Davis Cup match.

In Dubai, Draper survived a first-round scare, defeating Quentin Halys 7-6(8), 6-3. He is next set to lock horns with another Frenchman, Arthur Rinderknech, in the second round. Draper is chasing his career’s fourth title.

Also read: Grigor Dimitrov Opens Up on Changes to His Game Since Injury against Jannik Sinner in Wimbledon