Fans filled the stands expecting a thriller, inspired by Arthur Fils’ eight-month comeback and his statement run to the final. Instead, Carlos Alcaraz unleashed a ruthless 6-2, 6-1 masterclass, sealing the Qatar Open title in just 50 minutes. As the contest slipped away, frustration erupted, with Fils smashing his racquet before later apologizing for the outburst.

Fils was visibly frustrated during the second set. When Alcaraz secured a double break, the Frenchman smashed his racket. It was a clear sign of his disappointment.

After the match, Fils addressed the crowd during the runner-up ceremony. He apologized for the short final and his performance. “Well, I don’t really know where to start,” he said.

“First of all, I want to thank the crowd. I’m very sorry for the final. I know it was a bit short. Thank you very much. It’s been eight long months with my injury; it’s been a long time.”

He also reflected on his difficult journey back from injury. The past months had been challenging for him. Still, he tried to stay positive. “So I guess, in a time like this, you just have to think about the last eight months where I was struggling, not playing tennis. I just want to thank my team, sorry guys, today was not my day, but I think we did a hell of a job, ok.”

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It was indeed a difficult day for Fils. He lost what became the quickest ATP final of the 2026 season so far. Alcaraz’s dominant win set a new benchmark. The match was even faster than last year’s shortest final. In 2025, Casper Ruud won the Stockholm final in 68 minutes. This result highlighted Alcaraz’s complete control.

Despite the loss, Fils showed respect and humor toward his opponent. He acknowledged Alcaraz’s performance and praised his team as well.

“You played very good, you’re a hell of a champion, it’s a joke,” he said. “Congrats to your team and to you, you did an unbelievable job.” Now ranked world number 40, Fils will next travel to the UAE. He is scheduled to play at the Dubai Tennis Championships. However, the challenge ahead is not easy.

He faces eighth seed Jiri Lehecka in the first round. If he wins, Denis Shapovalov could await in the second. Further rounds may bring Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, and Alexander Bublik.

After playing five matches this week, fatigue could be a concern. Reaching another final in Dubai will require a strong effort. There is also a chance he may withdraw.

Withdrawing after a final is not uncommon on the tour. Several players have already pulled out of events this season. The demanding schedule often forces tough decisions.

And perhaps, racket smashing was not a one-time reaction from Fils. There have been other moments where frustration showed. It reflects how intense and emotional professional tennis can be.

Arthur Fils smashes his racket in the Monte-Carlo Masters

Last year at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Arthur Fils had a tense battle with Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals. It was a dramatic three-set contest. The match showed both fight and frustration.

Alcaraz lost the first set but stayed calm under pressure. He fought back strongly to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. With that victory, he reached the ATP Masters 1000 semi-finals in Monte-Carlo for the first time.

The match lasted just under two and a half hours. Both players pushed each other physically and mentally. The intensity rose as the match entered the final set.

Fils actually led 3-1 in the deciding set. However, momentum quickly shifted. Alcaraz began winning the key points while the Frenchman struggled to stay composed.

Frustration soon became visible on Fils’s side. During a tense moment, he lashed out at his racket. He bent it nearly 90 degrees, making it completely unusable. He threw the damaged racket away and picked up a new one. Fils returned to the court, but the setback affected his rhythm. Minutes later, Alcaraz closed out the match.

The umpire issued Fils a code violation for racket abuse. It was not an isolated incident. A similar moment had occurred only weeks earlier at the Miami Open. In Miami, Fils defeated Frances Tiafoe in the third round. But after dropping the second set, he smashed his racket at the bench. The umpire again gave him a code violation.

Tiafoe also reacted emotionally in that match. He destroyed his own racket, drawing loud jeers from the crowd. The tension reflected how intense tour matches can become.

However, Fils has not always been involved in such situations. In 2023 at the Lyon Open, Mikael Ymer was disqualified during a match against him. The incident followed a heated argument over a line call.

Ymer protested strongly, saying, “Why are you not checking the mark?” He added, “Are you telling me you’re not even going to come down and check the mark? I’ve never witnessed that a ref says, ‘I’m not going to go down and check the mark.’ It doesn’t happen.” 

Now, after apologizing for a short final following his comeback run, the question remains whether the Frenchman can regain his rhythm in Dubai and reach another final.