Preview: Jannik Sinner vs Tomas Machac prediction, betting tips & odds, head-to-head | ATP Qatar Open 2026
Sinner will begin his quest to reclaim the World No. 1 ranking.
Jannik Sinner enters the 2026 ATP Qatar Open in Doha as the second seed, and one of the tournament favourites. Fresh off an Australian Open semi-final run, the Italian continues to reassert himself as a dominant hard-court force with his powerful baseline game, reliable serve, and growing mental resilience.
Making his debut at this ATP 500 event, Sinner has no immediate ranking pressure and arrives motivated to add another title to his résumé.
Standing in his opening path is Czech rising star Tomas Machac, ranked just outside the top 30. Machac has enjoyed a respectable start to 2026, including a title triumph at Adelaide earlier this season.
While he enters as the underdog, the 24-year-old will look to test Sinner early and take advantage of potential rustiness in the Italian’s game.
Match details
- Tournament: ATP Qatar Open 2026
- Round: Round of 32
- Date: February 16
- Venue: Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, Doha, Qatar
- Surface: Hard Court (outdoor)
Preview
Sinner will look to move past his Australian Open disappointment, as he failed to defend his crown, falling to Novak Djokovic in the semis. The Italian will be under no pressure in this Middle East swing and will be keen to make his Doha debut a memorable one.
Machac started 2026 by clinching the Adelaide Open title and then suffered a close five-setter loss to Musetti at the Australian Open. Coming from injury, the Czech could prove to be a tricky rival for an opening-round clash of an ATP-500 competition.
Sinner leads Machac 2-0 on head-to-head, with both wins coming on hard courts in 2024 at Miami and Shanghai. In those matches, the Italian controlled rallies, served efficiently, and never dropped a set, underscoring his dominance in this matchup.
Form
- Jannik Sinner: L-W-W-W-W
- Tomas Machac: L-L-W-W-W
Head-to-head record
- Matches: 2
- Jannik Sinner: 2
- Tomas Machac: 0
Stats
Jannik Sinner
- Jannik Sinner is 5-1 in 2026 so far
- Jannik Sinner is 0-0 in Doha
- Jannik Sinner holds a 77% winning percentage on hard courts
Tomas Machac
- Machac is 7-3 in 2026 so far
- Machac is 0-0 in Doha
- Machac holds a 67% winning percentage on hard courts
Jannik Sinner vs Tomas Machac: Betting tips and odds
- Moneyline: Sinner -2500, Machac +1200
- Spread: Sinner -6 (+102), Machac +6 (-125)
- Total Games: Over 19 (-106), Under 19 (-115)
Match prediction
Sinner is expected to win comfortably in straight sets, given his clear superiority and dominant head-to-head record. Unless Machac produces an exceptional serving performance, the Italian’s consistency and adaptability should prevail.
Overall, this shapes up as a routine opening-round win for Sinner, setting him up for a deeper run in Doha. The most likely outcome remains a straight-sets victory, but an underperforming Sinner against an in-form Machac could turn the tables, leaving no room for complacency for the World No. 2.
Result: Jannik Sinner to win in straight sets
Where and how to watch live streaming and TV broadcast of Jannik Sinner vs Tomas Machac, first-round match at Qatar Open 2026?
Indian viewers can watch the Qatar Open 2026 round of 32 match between Jannik Sinner and Tomas Machac on Tennis Channel and Fancode app, as there is no official partner for the live telecast of the tournament.
Viewers in the UK can watch the blockbuster match live on Sky Sports and streaming partner NOW. Tennis Channel will broadcast the action-packed contest in the US along with streaming partner Fubo.
Where and when will Jannk Sinner vs Tomas Machac first-round match at ATP Qatar Open 2026 take place?
The opening round match will be played at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha on February 16 (Monday). It has a tentative start time of 7:30 pm local time and 10:00 pm in India.
What is the head-to-head record between Jannik Sinner and Tomas Machac?
They have clashed twice on tour previously, with Sinner winning both meetings in straight sets.
What happened in the most recent meeting between Jannik Sinner and Tomas Machac?
Their last meeting was at the Shanghai Masters in 2024. Sinner won that Semi-final clash in straight sets 6-4, 7-5.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.