Doha line-up

The Qatar Tennis Federation has announced the full list of players taking part in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open from January 3 to 8, 2011 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.

The event is part of the ATP World Tour 250 series where players will compete for the coveted title and a piece of the US$1.24mn in prize money. The main draw will be held on January 1.

The list of players that have confirmed their participation in the main round include five Spanish players, three from Germany, two each from Italy, Ukraine, Russia, and Slovakia as well as one participant from Switzerland, France, Finland, Latvia, Romania, Kazakhstan, Poland, and Serbia.

The diversity of players’ nationalities will bring more excitement to the tournament due the expected support from foreign communities in Qatar.

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal and World No. 2 Roger Federer are the big guns taking part in the event.

Nadal clinched three Grand Slam titles in 2010 (French Open, Wimbledon and US Open), three Masters titles (Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid) and the Tokyo Open before reaching the final of ATP World Tour Finals Championship for the first time in his career. Tennis experts consider Federer to be to be the greatest player of all time as he has won a record 16 Grand Slam singles titles.

Nadal and Federer, would be without doubt the strongest candidates to win the title but tournament will witness tough contenders such as holder Nicolay Davydenko and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Additionally, the event will also feature the participation of young players such as Ernests Gulbis, the-22-Years-Old Latvian who claimed the title of Delray Beach Tennis Tournament, Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan, holder of St.Petersburg Open 2010 title and Viktor Troicki, winner of Kremlin Cup in Moscow.

Tickets are available for fans through “Tickets” link at the official website of Qatar Tennis Federation www.qatartennis.org. Fans also can purchase their tickets at designated stands in Villaggio, City Center, Landmark, and at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex.

Courtesy: Gulf Times