Jannik Sinner continues to make headlines on and off the singles court as the world No. 2 Italian tennis star embarks on a multi-pronged campaign this February. Fresh off a dominant win in Doha, Sinner has also thrown his hat into the doubles ring at the upcoming Indian Wells Masters 1000 event—this time rekindling a partnership with American powerhouse Reilly Opelka. But as the tournament landscape heats up, Sinner and Opelka’s fate in the doubles draw hangs in the balance, with their entry still far from guaranteed.
On February 16, 2026, Sinner delivered a clinical performance at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, dispatching Czech challenger Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-4 in the opening round. It was Sinner’s first match since his grueling five-set semifinal loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open late last month. That defeat ended Sinner’s two-year reign as the Australian Open champion, but the Italian showed no signs of a hangover in Doha—he never faced a break point and limited himself to just nine unforced errors. Talk about bouncing back!
While Sinner’s singles prowess is well documented—he’s a four-time Grand Slam champion and currently ranked No. 2 in the world—his doubles ventures have taken an intriguing turn this season. Ahead of the first Masters 1000 event of the year in Indian Wells, Sinner has teamed up with Reilly Opelka, the 6-foot-11 American known for his thunderous serve. The duo, however, find themselves in a tricky situation: they are currently the fourth alternates in a fiercely competitive doubles field. Unless at least four pairs withdraw before the completion of all first-round matches, Sinner and Opelka may not see the court at all.
This isn’t the first time Sinner and Opelka have joined forces. The pair made waves five years ago at the ATP 250 event in Atlanta, where they stormed to the doubles title by winning four consecutive matches—Sinner’s only doubles crown to date. Their chemistry was palpable during that run, with Sinner acknowledging his partner’s firepower in their Atlanta victory speech: “He gets more [credit] because he was serving very, very good and today obviously he was returning well. At the end of the day, we had a lot of fun the whole week. Thanks to him for playing with me.” Opelka, for his part, was equally effusive: “You get a guy with returns as good as Jannik’s, you can beat anyone. It was unbelievable. Seriously, it was impressive to watch and it was fun to be around a guy like him. He’s 19, but you wouldn’t know it. He’s so far ahead of his age and you can tell his mind works differently than a lot of the other guys’.”
Since that Atlanta triumph, Sinner’s star has only risen. The 24-year-old Italian has captured multiple Grand Slam titles, amassed 20 other trophies, and even reached the top spot in the world rankings. Opelka, now ranked No. 69, remains one of Sinner’s closest friends on tour—a relationship that’s often highlighted in their off-court interactions and Q&A videos.
Sinner hasn’t limited his doubles experience to Opelka alone. Over the years, he’s paired up with other notable names, including countryman Lorenzo Sonego, British No. 1 Jack Draper, and Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz. Still, the prospect of a Sinner-Opelka reunion at Indian Wells has fans buzzing, even as the odds of their entry remain slim. Their combined ranking simply isn’t enough to crack the main draw in what’s shaping up to be one of the most competitive doubles fields in recent memory.
And what a field it is! Indian Wells will feature some of the game’s most dynamic duos, blending established doubles specialists with high-profile singles stars eager to test their mettle. Australian Open champions Neal Skupski and Christian Harrison are among the favorites, joined by the British pair Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool. Adding even more intrigue, former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev has signed up with rising American Learner Tien. Their budding rivalry reached a fever pitch at the Australian Open, where Tien stunned Medvedev with a straight-sets victory—6-4, 6-0, 6-3. Medvedev was candid about the loss, stating, “He played great, super-aggressive. Even when I was making good shots, he was making a better shot back. Didn’t find many solutions today on the court, which is rare, and I didn’t feel that many times in my life like this.”
Other notable teams include world No. 10 Alexander Bublik with doubles stalwart Rajeev Ram, fiery Frenchman Corentin Moutet alongside Flavio Cobolli, and the talented pair of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Arthur Fils. Even the alternate list is stacked, featuring the likes of Ben Shelton and Emilia Nava, as well as Ugo Humbert and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. With so much talent vying for a spot, every withdrawal could shake up the draw in dramatic fashion.
Meanwhile, Sinner’s singles campaign in Doha continues to draw attention. His efficient victory over Machac sets up what could be a deep run, as he looks to regain momentum following his Australian Open exit. The Doha field is stacked as well—2023 champion and fourth seed Daniil Medvedev breezed past Juncheng Shang 6-4, 6-2, while Jakub Mensik, Alexei Popyrin, Arthur Fils, and Valentin Royer also advanced. Over in Delray Beach, Alex Michelsen impressed by winning 86% of his service points to defeat Valentin Vacherot, and Frances Tiafoe, the 2018 champ, moved through with a straight-sets win.
Elsewhere on the ATP Tour, the Rio Open saw all three Brazilian hopefuls bow out in the first round, while Peru’s Ignacio Buse, the Czech Republic’s Vit Kopriva, and Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann all notched victories. Dusan Lajovic, a lucky loser from qualifying, managed an upset over seventh-seeded Daniel Altmaier, adding to the tournament’s early drama.
With Indian Wells on the horizon, all eyes are on the doubles entry list. Will Sinner and Opelka get their shot at another run, or will fans have to wait for their much-anticipated reunion? For now, Sinner’s focus remains split between chasing titles in singles and hoping for a break—or four—in the doubles draw. Tennis fans everywhere are watching the entry lists, counting down withdrawals, and waiting to see if one of the sport’s most entertaining partnerships will get another chance to shine.
As the action unfolds across Doha, Indian Wells, and beyond, Jannik Sinner stands at the center of the tennis world—proving, once again, that his story is far from finished. Whether on his own or with a friend by his side, Sinner’s journey continues to captivate.