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[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-microphone”] Draw Recap from Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open
Special thanks to Malek Jaziri, Jeremy Chardy, Fernando Verdsaco and Frances Tiafoe for being a part of 2020’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open draw ceremony. Held at the Marsa Malaz Kempinsky in Doha’s Pearl, ATP Tour Manager Denis Zivkovic conducted the proceedings alongside Tournament Referee Ashraf Hamouda.
To start, Denis anchored the top-2 seeds Stan Wawrinka (2008 Finalist) and Andrey Rublev (2018 Finalist). The 3-seed and 2012 Champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was drawn in Rublev’s half, while this year’s 4th-seed Milos Raonic landed in Wawrinka’s half. All four receive a 1st-Round Bye and won’t play until Tuesday or Wednesday.
Stan Wawrinka’s Promising Quarter
By all appearances, the draw favors this year’s top-seed and Doha’s 2008 Finalist. He needs only 4 victories to capture his 17th career Singles title, and will open his campaign with either a Qualifier or World #51 Jeremy Chardy. But, this is week-1. Anything can happen. Stan may face fearless Kazakh human highlight-reel Alexander Bublic in the Quarters, which is an intriguing first-time encounter.
Bublic has fond memories of Qatar. Each April, the Qatar Tennis Federation hosts three consecutive Futures Tournaments for the sport’s rising global talent. In 2016, ranked outside the top-700, Sascha entered all three. In the first event, he fell in the opening round. But in the second, he captured his first Futures title. And in the third, reached the Final again. Four years later, he’s now a 2-time Tour-level Finalist with 6 Challenger titles to his name.
If seeding and rankings mean anything…
…then Jo-Wilfried Tsonga faces Frances Tiafoe in the Quarters, while Andrey Rublev meets Serbia’s Laslo Djere.
That said, anything goes in Raonic’s Quarter. With veterans Fernando Verdasco (2017 Semifinalist) and Tennys Sandgren, not to mention a rested Kyle Edmund and Filip Krajinovic – Milos’ road to the Final-4 looks bumpy.
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Participants in the 2020 Qatar ExxonMobil Open Draw Ceremony
Malek Jaziri -201- (TUN) | Announcer Introduction
Back in Doha for his 8th Qatar ExxonMobil Open, he is the most successful Tunisian player in the history of the game. Ranked as high as World #42, in 2018 he was on-fire, earning his first three top-10 victories – including a win over World #4 Marin Cilic – en-route to his first ATP Tour Final in Istanbul. He also reached the Doubles Semifinals at the 2018 US Open, becoming the first Major Semifinalist in his country’s history. From Tunisia, this is Malek Jaziri.
Jeremy Chardy -51- (FRA) | Announcer Introduction
He is back in Doha for the first time since capturing the 2017 Qatar ExxonMobil Open Doubles title with partner Fabrice Martin. It was just their 3rd event together, their first title – and since then, he and Fabrice have captured 2 more titles, and reached the Final at Roland Garros. He’s a Davis Cup Champion, owns 1 ATP Singles title, 7 Doubles titles, and has earned 12 top-10 victories – including a win over Roger Federer on the clay in Rome. From France, say hello to Jeremy Chardy.
Fernando Verdasco -49- (ESP) | Announcer Introduction
He is a fan favorite here in Doha, with a home at the Pearl. A Semifinalist here 3-years-ago, he’s also a 2-time Doha Doubles Semifinalist. He’s a 3-time Davis Cup Champion, has amassed 7 ATP Singles titles, 8 Doubles titles, won the year-end Doubles Championship at the ATP Finals and has been ranked as high as World #7. Our one player who gets to sleep in his own bed each night and spend quality time with his 10-month-old son. Please welcome, Fernando Verdasco.
Frances Tiafoe -47- (USA) | Announcer Introduction
Finally, at 21-years-old, they call this ATP Next Gen star “Big Foe.” 2-years-ago, he won his first Tour-level title in Delray Beach, defeating his childhood idol Juan Martin Del Potro en-route to the championship match. Last season – he reached his first Grand Slam Quarterfinal at the Australian Open, his first Masters Quarterfinal in Miami, and capped the season with a Semifinal run at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. From the United States – This is Frances Tiafoe.
Denis Zivkovic – ATP Tour Manager
Retired American player who captured his first title at the 2012 San Luis Potosi Challenger in Mexico. At the time, he was qualifier ranked outside the top-700, and won 8 consecutive matches to claim the title.
Ashraf Hamouda – Tournament Referee
Tournament and Gold Badge Referee and long time member of the Qatar Tennis Federation
Tariq Darwish Zainal
Secretary General of the Qatar Tennis Federation and General Coordinator of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open
Karim Alami
Qatar ExxonMobil Open Tournament Director and Doha Semifinalist in 1999
Saad Al Mohannadi
Qatar Tennis Federation Executive Director
Abdullatif Al Naemi
Representative of ExxonMobil Qatar
