Jannik Sinner vs Alexei Popyrin Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Sinner set for another dominant win in Doha

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Tue 17 Feb 2026 23:33

Andrew Hendrie 17 Feb 2026

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Jannik Sinner vs Alexei Popyrin predictions for Wednesday's ATP Doha R2 match
Sinner has won 72 of his last 74 matches vs players outside the top 30
Popyrin has lost 10 of last 11 matches & is 2-13 vs top five players in completed matches
The match is scheduled to start around 3.30am AEDT on Thursday February 19

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Jannik Sinner (Photo by Getty Images)

Jannik Sinner vs Alexei Popyrin Tips, Prediction & Live Stream

World No. 2 Jannik Sinner targets the Qatar Open quarter-finals when he comes up against Australia's Alexei Popyrin in the second round in Doha on Wednesday.

Jannik Sinner vs Alexei Popyrin Tips, Prediction & Live Stream
Sinner vs Popyrin Stats & Trends
Sinner vs Popyrin Head To Head
Jannik Sinner Form Analysis
Alexei Popyrin Form Analysis
Sinner vs Popyrin Live Stream

Sinner returned to action for the first time since his shock Australian Open semi-final defeat to Novak Djokovic in his Doha opener and he was back to his ruthless best, dropping just five games against the dangerous Tomas Machac. Sinner extended his winning streak at ATP 500 level to 11 matches and he'll be aiming for another one-sided victory against Popyrin, who has been in absolutely abysmal form as of late.

Indeed, Popyrin was on a 10-match losing streak dating back to last year's US Open before he received the kindest possible draw in his Doha first round, taking care of unranked wildcard Mubarak Shannan Zayid. That's really not saying much as most amateur or club players could probably give that Qatari local a run for his money. Sinner has been utterly dominant against players outside the top 30 (basically anyone other than Alcaraz really) for the last couple of years and the Italian is tipped for another quick and routine win here.

Sinner vs Popyrin Stats & Trends

Sinner has gone 72-2 vs players outside the top 30 since August 2023
One of those defeats came via retirement & the other was vs Alexander Bublik (now top 10)
Eight of Sinner's last nine wins in best-of-three matches vs players outside the top 30 have covered a -5.5 games line
Sinner's last five wins in best-of-three matches vs outside top 30 players have seen Under 18.5 games
Popyrin is 2-13 vs top five players in completed matches throughout his career
Popyrin has lost 10 of his last 11 matches
Popyrin didn't win more than three games in a set in his last match vs Sinner at the 2025 US Open

Sinner vs Popyrin Head To Head

Level at 1-1, but Popyrin's win was before Sinner became the dominant force he is today.

Year	Tournament	Surface	Winner	Score
2025	US Open (R64)	Hard	Jannik Sinner	6–3, 6–2, 6–2
2020	Madrid (R32)	Clay	Alexei Popyrin	7–6(5), 6–2

Jannik Sinner Form Analysis

2026 Record: 6-1
ATP Doha Record: 1-0
Current Ranking: No. 2
Career-High Ranking: No. 1

Sinner ended 2025 by taking out the year-end ATP Finals, but had to settle for the World No. 2 ranking.

The Italian wasn't at his best throughout the Australian Open - he could have been bundled out in the third round by Eliot Spizzirri if it wasn't for the heat rule, while he was ultimately sent packing by Novak Djokovic in five sets in the semi-finals.

Returning to action in Doha, Sinner looked much stronger, easily dispatching Tomas Machac 6-1 6-4.

"I felt good on court today. Physically I feel good. Every match is going to get tougher, so hopefully I will be ready for the next one,” Sinner said post-match.

Sinner was untroubled throughout and dropped just six points on serve in the entire match.

Alexei Popyrin Form Analysis

2026 Record: 1-5
ATP Doha Record: 4-2
Current Ranking: No. 53
Career-High Ranking: No. 19 (August 2025)

It's been a big fall from grace for Popyrin, who is now outside the top 50 and at somewhat of a career crossroads.

The Aussie has lost 10 of his last 11 matches at all levels since last year's US Open.

Popyrin failed to win a match during the Aussie summer and was even bundled out in the opening round of the Manama Challenger in Bahrain as he searched for confidence.

The 26-year-old suffered a straight sets defeat to Felix Auger-Aliassime in Rotterdam last week and only snapped his losing streak due to the fortuitous draw of facing the unranked Mubarak Shannan Zayid in his Doha opener, prevailing 6-0 6-2.