The Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) has confirmed that 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal will headline this year’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open, which will be held from February 19 to 24 at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha.The Spanish superstar, who will be making a return to the courts after opting out of this year’s Australian Open, won the tournament in 2014, where he defeated France’s Gael Monfils to lift his maiden title in Qatar. The 14-time French Open champion was also a runner-up at the 2016 tournament.After missing most of the 2023 season because of a hip injury, Nadal, 37, only got back on court this month in Brisbane, where he reached the quarter-finals. But a micro tear in a muscle during that quarter-final defeat by Jordan Thompson forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open. Nadal has said previously there was a "high percentage” that 2024 would be his farewell to the tour.Aside from the former World No 1 Nadal, the tournament’s defending champion and World No 3 Daniil Medvedev, World No. 5 Andrey Rublev, and two-time champion and three Grand Slam winner Andy Murray are some of the players to look out for at the recently upgraded ATP 500 tournament, which has grown to become one of the signature events on the ATP Tour calendar.Tariq Zainal, QTF Secretary-General, said, "We are thrilled to announce the return of the esteemed Rafael Nadal and other stars to Doha for this year’s tournament. It is truly a privilege to have a player of Nadal’s exceptional talent participate in such a prestigious event."Doha has always been synonymous with outstanding tennis, and it comes as no surprise that the tournament has consistently drawn renowned players since its inception in 1993. With each passing year, this event only grows in grandeur, and we eagerly anticipate the arrival of all the players and fans to partake in this remarkable tennis spectacle in February.”The ATP 500 tournament, with a total prize money of $1,395,875, will feature 28 players in the singles, while 16 pairs will participate in the doubles event.The Qatar ExxonMobil Open, one of two ATP Tour events held in the Middle East, has been selected by players as the ATP 250 Tournament of the Year on five occasions (2015, ’17, ’19, ‘21-’22).Sales of tickets for the tournament are now open, and fans can purchase them online at www.qatartennis.org or at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.Tickets are also available at selected malls, including Villagio Mall, City Centre and Place Vendome.
January 24, 2024 | 12:04 AM