Former Major Champion Rushes to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s Defense Amid Criticism Due to $1.2m Qatar Open Appearance Fees

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will face each other only if they both progress to the final of the Qatar Open.

Former Major Champion Rushes to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s Defense Amid Criticism Due to $1.2m Qatar Open Appearance Fees

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ, Carlos Alcaraz 4K)

In Short
  • Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner received $1.2 million in appearance fees for participating in the Qatar Open.
  • The tournament winner will earn $529,945, highlighting the disparity between appearance fees and prize money.
  • Svetlana Kuznetsova defended the players, stating that top-ranked athletes often participate for bonuses in smaller tournaments.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have both signed up for the Qatar Open, playing their first tournament of the season in the ATP 500 category. Alcaraz lost to Jiri Lehecka in the quarterfinals last year, while the Italian was forced to skip due to his three-month doping ban.

The winner of the Doha event will receive $529,945. But Sinner and Alcaraz have reportedly already pocketed a huge amount even before entering the courts of the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex. The Qatar Open, which kicked off on February 16 and will run till February 21, has awarded the top two players $1.2 million as appearance fees, according to Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.

It’s pretty common for the top-ranked players to receive appearance fees in non-mandatory ATP 500 or ATP 250 events. When it came into light that the World No.1 and the World No.2 had received more than double the amount of the winner’s prize money, some sections of the tennis community started criticizing the tournament. But two-time Grand Slam singles champion Svetlana Kuznetsova rushed to their defense.

When a tournament is small and attracts top-level players, it means they have motivations beyond points and prize money: I’m talking about bonuses. Generally, the tournaments that are less prominent in the calendar are the most lucrative. So, if it doesn’t disrupt your schedule too much and you have the opportunity to earn some extra cash, why not participate? The organizers’ motive is also clear: two top-level players who are sure to draw a crowd of fans to the stands.

Svetlana Kuznetsova said on her Telegram channel

Sinner, in his first round, knocked out Tomas Machac in straight sets to schedule his second-round match against Alexei Popyrin. Alcaraz is set to play his first-round match on Tuesday (February 17) against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech. Sinner and Alcaraz will only meet if they both reach the final, as they are the second and first seeds in the event, respectively.

Jannik Sinner expects a tough match against Alexei Popyrin

Jannik Sinner admitted after his first-round match that the wind made it a bit difficult to find his rhythm. Though he thinks he had a good day in the office, he is preparing for what he described as a tough match in the next round. Against Alexei Popyrin, the four-time Grand Slam champion holds a 1-1 head-to-head record.

Jannik Sinner (3)
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

It will be a tough match. He has a lot of potential, he serves well, and has an excellent forehand. I feel ready to face him, but I can only control myself… I’m trying to consistently return record serves, and there are many other little things we’re trying to improve.

Jannik Sinner told Sky Sports

The Aussie had defeated him when they met for the first time in the round of 32 of the 2021 Madrid Open. But Sinner clinched the win when they faced each other in the second round of the 2025 US Open.

Before scheduling his match against Sinner, Popyrin knocked out Mubarak Al-Harrasi. The first-round clash with Tomas Machac was Sinner’s first match since his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open.

Sinner was chasing a three-peat at Melbourne Park and joined Djokovic as the only second player in the Open Era to reach the milestone. But Djokovic ruined that dream with a five-set win before suffering a four-set defeat at the hands of Carlos Alcaraz in the final. The last time Sinner won an ATP 500 title was at the Vienna Open last year against Alexander Zverev. Sinner has so far won seven ATP 500 titles.

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