The Legends
Rafael Nadal - Last Years Winner
Age: 28
Nationality: Spanish
Current world ranking: 3
Highest world ranking 1
Career highlights: French Open winner 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014; Wimbledon winner 2008, 2010; Australian Open winner 2009; US Open winner 2010, 2013.
Some say Rafael Nadal isn’t human. The popular Spaniard has won no fewer than 14 Grand Slam titles in his career, at all four of the events, and has already secured his place in the history books as one of the greatest ever players.
It’ll be nigh-on impossible to ever surpass his French Open record, winning it nine times already, with no signs of his domination of this Grand Slam abating. The 28 year-old won the Qatar Open last year with a three-sets victory over Frenchman Gael Monfils in the final. He also has an Olympic gold medal and numerous Davis Cup titles. He is, truly, a legend!
Rafael Nadal - Last Years Winner
Age: 28
Nationality: Spanish
Current world ranking: 3
Highest world ranking 1
Career highlights: French Open winner 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014; Wimbledon winner 2008, 2010; Australian Open winner 2009; US Open winner 2010, 2013.
Some say Rafael Nadal isn’t human. The popular Spaniard has won no fewer than 14 Grand Slam titles in his career, at all four of the events, and has already secured his place in the history books as one of the greatest ever players.
It’ll be nigh-on impossible to ever surpass his French Open record, winning it nine times already, with no signs of his domination of this Grand Slam abating. The 28 year-old won the Qatar Open last year with a three-sets victory over Frenchman Gael Monfils in the final. He also has an Olympic gold medal and numerous Davis Cup titles. He is, truly, a legend!
The Legends
Novak Djokovic - World Number One
Age: 27
Nationality: Serbian
Current world ranking: 1
Highest world ranking: 1
Career highlights: Australian Open winner 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013; US Open winner 2011; Wimbledon winner 2011, 2014; French Open finalist 2012, 2014.
The world number one is, because of his ranking, the man to beat. He is now coached by tennis legend Boris Becker and is showing no signs of letting his incredible form slip. The one Open that he hasn’t managed to grab to complete the set is the French Open, when he was runner-up in both 2012 and 2014, losing to...you’ve guessed it...Nadal. He’s also a Davis Cup winner, in 2010. Known in his younger years for imitating players, his incredible agility, all-round game and mind-blowing ability makes him one of the greatest players ever. Let’s not beat around the bush here: we all want to see a Djokovic v Nadal final, right?
Novak Djokovic - World Number One
Age: 27
Nationality: Serbian
Current world ranking: 1
Highest world ranking: 1
Career highlights: Australian Open winner 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013; US Open winner 2011; Wimbledon winner 2011, 2014; French Open finalist 2012, 2014.
The world number one is, because of his ranking, the man to beat. He is now coached by tennis legend Boris Becker and is showing no signs of letting his incredible form slip. The one Open that he hasn’t managed to grab to complete the set is the French Open, when he was runner-up in both 2012 and 2014, losing to...you’ve guessed it...Nadal. He’s also a Davis Cup winner, in 2010. Known in his younger years for imitating players, his incredible agility, all-round game and mind-blowing ability makes him one of the greatest players ever. Let’s not beat around the bush here: we all want to see a Djokovic v Nadal final, right?
History of the Qatar Open
The tournament, run by the Qatar Tennis Federation, was first held in 1993 with German great Boris Becker beating Croatian Goran Ivanisevic 7-6 4-6 7-5. The inaugural final still stands as the largest number of games played in a final in the 22 years of the event so far.
The Qatar ExxonMobil Open has become a mainstay tournament of the ATP World Tour, establishing itself as an event which top players want to be at as they build up to the Australian Open.
Many of the greatest players ever have graced the courts at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash complex, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Stefan Edberg, Andy Roddick and, coming this year, Novak Djokovic.
The record for most singles titles for any player is Swiss maestro Federer, with victories in 2005, 2006 and 2011. Three players; Murray, Petr Korda and Edberg, have won the title on two occasions each.
Surprise winners have been the likes of Ecuador’s Nicolas Escude in 2004. Although a top 10 ranked player at times in his career, he was unseeded when he won the tournament ahead of the likes of Andy Roddick and Tim Henman.
A notable and very popular winner was Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui, who took away the title in 2002. El Aynaoui now spends time coaching in Doha throughout the year. Also, unseeded Austrian Stefan Koubek won in 2003 while ranked 54 in the world.
In doubles, Mark Knowles from the Bahamas won the title in 1996, 2000 and 2001, two titles with Daniel Nestor and the third with Max Mirnyi. Knowles was a finalist in 2003 with Nestor.
Nadal has also won the doubles title on three occasions; 2005 by teaming with Albert Costa and 2009 and 2011 with Marc Lopez.
The tournament, run by the Qatar Tennis Federation, was first held in 1993 with German great Boris Becker beating Croatian Goran Ivanisevic 7-6 4-6 7-5. The inaugural final still stands as the largest number of games played in a final in the 22 years of the event so far.
The Qatar ExxonMobil Open has become a mainstay tournament of the ATP World Tour, establishing itself as an event which top players want to be at as they build up to the Australian Open.
Many of the greatest players ever have graced the courts at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash complex, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Stefan Edberg, Andy Roddick and, coming this year, Novak Djokovic.
The record for most singles titles for any player is Swiss maestro Federer, with victories in 2005, 2006 and 2011. Three players; Murray, Petr Korda and Edberg, have won the title on two occasions each.
Surprise winners have been the likes of Ecuador’s Nicolas Escude in 2004. Although a top 10 ranked player at times in his career, he was unseeded when he won the tournament ahead of the likes of Andy Roddick and Tim Henman.
A notable and very popular winner was Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui, who took away the title in 2002. El Aynaoui now spends time coaching in Doha throughout the year. Also, unseeded Austrian Stefan Koubek won in 2003 while ranked 54 in the world.
In doubles, Mark Knowles from the Bahamas won the title in 1996, 2000 and 2001, two titles with Daniel Nestor and the third with Max Mirnyi. Knowles was a finalist in 2003 with Nestor.
Nadal has also won the doubles title on three occasions; 2005 by teaming with Albert Costa and 2009 and 2011 with Marc Lopez.
Outside Tip
David Ferrer
Age: 32
Nationality: Spanish
Current world ranking: 10
Highest world ranking: 3
Career highlights: French Open finalist 2013; Australian Open semi-finalist 2011, 2013; US Open semi-finalist 2007, 2012; Davis Cup winner 2008, 2009, 2011.
The man from Alicante managed to turn his clay-court specialism into an all-round game and become one of the players to watch out for in every competition he plays.
He won the Paris Masters in 2012 and reached the top five in 2007. Last year he lost in the second round to Germany’s Daniel Brands at the ExxonMobil Qatar Open, so will be hoping to vastly improve on that this time around.
David Ferrer
Age: 32
Nationality: Spanish
Current world ranking: 10
Highest world ranking: 3
Career highlights: French Open finalist 2013; Australian Open semi-finalist 2011, 2013; US Open semi-finalist 2007, 2012; Davis Cup winner 2008, 2009, 2011.
The man from Alicante managed to turn his clay-court specialism into an all-round game and become one of the players to watch out for in every competition he plays.
He won the Paris Masters in 2012 and reached the top five in 2007. Last year he lost in the second round to Germany’s Daniel Brands at the ExxonMobil Qatar Open, so will be hoping to vastly improve on that this time around.
Always a Threat
Tomas Berdycht
Age: 29
Nationality: Czech
Current world ranking: 7
Highest world ranking: 5
Career highlights: Wimbledon finalist 2010; French Open semi-finalist 2010; US Open semi-finalist 2012; Australian Open semi-finalist 2014; Davis Cup winner 2012, 2013.
Berdych, the six feet five-inch giant, has been knocking on the door for many years at Grand Slams, but never quite managed to break through and win one, unable to join the Grand Slam monopoly held over the years by Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray. He came closest at Wimbledon in 2010, losing out to Nadal in straight sets in the final. That said, the hard-hitting Czech has won numerous ATP titles and is a real danger on his forehand. He is one of the favourites to win for sure.
Tomas Berdycht
Age: 29
Nationality: Czech
Current world ranking: 7
Highest world ranking: 5
Career highlights: Wimbledon finalist 2010; French Open semi-finalist 2010; US Open semi-finalist 2012; Australian Open semi-finalist 2014; Davis Cup winner 2012, 2013.
Berdych, the six feet five-inch giant, has been knocking on the door for many years at Grand Slams, but never quite managed to break through and win one, unable to join the Grand Slam monopoly held over the years by Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray. He came closest at Wimbledon in 2010, losing out to Nadal in straight sets in the final. That said, the hard-hitting Czech has won numerous ATP titles and is a real danger on his forehand. He is one of the favourites to win for sure.
The Wildcard
Richard Gasquet
Age: 29
Nationality: French
Current world ranking: 27
Highest world ranking: 7
Career highlights: Wimbledon semi-finalist 2007; US Open semi-finalist 2013; mixed doubles French Open winner 2004 (with Tatiana Golovin); Davis Cup winner 2014.
The French player has never quite lived up to the expectations that were heaped on him at a young age, but he did manage a tour win in Qatar in 2013 with victory over Nikolay Davydenko. His backhand and flair and creativity when playing makes him one of the most exciting players to watch.
His quarter-final victory over Andy Roddick in 2007 at Wimbledon set him up for stardom, only for the inimitable Roger Federer to knock him out at the semi-final stage. Not quite the Goran Ivanišević of wildcards, but Gasquet is a very talented player who could cause an upset of two, though it is unlikely he will manage to win the Qatar Open again.
Richard Gasquet
Age: 29
Nationality: French
Current world ranking: 27
Highest world ranking: 7
Career highlights: Wimbledon semi-finalist 2007; US Open semi-finalist 2013; mixed doubles French Open winner 2004 (with Tatiana Golovin); Davis Cup winner 2014.
The French player has never quite lived up to the expectations that were heaped on him at a young age, but he did manage a tour win in Qatar in 2013 with victory over Nikolay Davydenko. His backhand and flair and creativity when playing makes him one of the most exciting players to watch.
His quarter-final victory over Andy Roddick in 2007 at Wimbledon set him up for stardom, only for the inimitable Roger Federer to knock him out at the semi-final stage. Not quite the Goran Ivanišević of wildcards, but Gasquet is a very talented player who could cause an upset of two, though it is unlikely he will manage to win the Qatar Open again.
The Crowd Pleaser
Dustin Brown
Age: 30
Nationality: German
Current world ranking: 83
Highest world ranking: 78
Brown has a good record at the Qatar Open. He’s automatically a loveable character with his dreads and an unconventional, fun style of play. While his Open record is nothing to shout home about, he’s beaten Nadal before, and his old-school serve and volley style makes him stand out from the crowd.
ExxonMobil Qatar Open
The ExxonMobil Tennis Open is on from January 5-10 at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, Khuwair, West Bay area (4440 9666). Prices range from QR25 to QR550, depending on choice of seats. Tickets can be purchased online at www.qatartennis.org. Look out for ticket stalls at numerous shopping malls in the city.
Dustin Brown
Age: 30
Nationality: German
Current world ranking: 83
Highest world ranking: 78
Brown has a good record at the Qatar Open. He’s automatically a loveable character with his dreads and an unconventional, fun style of play. While his Open record is nothing to shout home about, he’s beaten Nadal before, and his old-school serve and volley style makes him stand out from the crowd.
ExxonMobil Qatar Open
The ExxonMobil Tennis Open is on from January 5-10 at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, Khuwair, West Bay area (4440 9666). Prices range from QR25 to QR550, depending on choice of seats. Tickets can be purchased online at www.qatartennis.org. Look out for ticket stalls at numerous shopping malls in the city.
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