ANNNOUNCER ANDY TAYLOR’S 11TH SEASON WITH THE QATAR TENNIS FEDERATION
Since the 2011 Doha Arab Games, announcer Andy Taylor has been a fixture with the QTF. From the Qatar TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil Open – to the Qatar Classic Squash Championship, the PSA Men’s World Championship, World Padel Championship, and Ooredoo Qatar Major.
For over a decade, he has regularly returned to this gleaming city on the Arabian Gulf; working closely with the Qatar Tennis Federation to showcase world-renowned athletes in professional tennis, squash and Padel. In the sports community, announcer Andy Taylor is known best as the Voice of the US Open; where his sound has anchored the presentation inside New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium for 22 consecutive years.
A versatile host, emcee and Stadium Announcer – with his individual style and delivery, Andy writes and narrates every player’s introduction, celebrating their career accomplishments, providing context for fans before each match. Afterwards, he interviews the victors, providing fans and international broadcasters further insight on each player’s performance and career. Additionally, as a voice talent, announcer Andy Taylor narrates video content used in the stadium and at special events throughout the tournament.
QATAR TOTAL ENERGIES OPEN | SINGLES CHAMPIONS
QATAR TOTAL ENERGIES OPEN | DOUBLES CHAMPIONS
2024 QATAR TOTALENERGIES OPEN: 2-TIME DEFENDING CHAMPION RETURNS
Last year, Poland’s Iga Swiatek once again lifted the falcon – a remarkable week where she lost only FIVE GAMES to make it back-to-back Doha triumphs. As fate would have it, she only had to play three matches to defend the title.
Following a 1st-Round Bye, the World #1 opened with a 6-0, 6-1 rout of Danielle Collins. In the Quarters, Belinda Bencic – who had just won the title in Abu Dhabi – withdrew after a deciding-set clash with Victoria Azarenka the night prior. In the Semifinals, Swiatek slaughtered Veronika Kudermetova, again dropping only a single game.
Jessica Pegula managed a hold and two breaks in set-1 of the Final, but that was it. Behind Iga’s third 6-0 set of the tournament, the World #1 joined Victoria Azarenka (2012, 2013) and Anastasia Myskina (2003, 2004) as one of only three players to capture back-to-back Qatar TotalEnergies Open titles.
ALMOST EVERY TOP-15 TALENT EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN 2024
In fact, nearly all top-50 WTA talents have signed-on for the 22nd installment of the season’s first WTA-1000 event. The only names missing: 2020 Doha Champion Aryna Sabalenka, who just defended her Australian Open title – last year’s Singles Finalist and Doubles Champion Jessica Pegula, who hasn’t played since her 2nd-Round loss at the Australian Open – Madison Keys, who’s recovering from a shoulder injury – along with 2-time champion Petra Kvitova and Belinda Bencic, who are both on maternity leave.
Other late withdrawals include World #10 Karolina Muchova, who’s ongoing wrist troubles continue to keep her off the court. In fact, Muchova hasn’t returned since her inspired run to the 2023 US Open Semifinals. Teenage talent Mirra Andreeva also withdrew due to wrist issues. Meanwhile, World #20 Elina Svitolina backed-out a few hours before the Draw, opening a Round-1 “Lucky Loser” position – giving this year’s top-ranked losing qualifier a second chance.
Notably, 4-time Major Champion Naomi Osaka – who’s finally back on tour after having daughter (Shai) last July – will return to Doha as a direct-entry with a special ranking of World #46.
In all, the field of talent features 13 former Doha champions:
- IGA SWIATEK – 2022, 2023 Singles Champion
- ELISE MERTENS– 2019 Singles Champion
- KAROLINA PLISKOVA – 2017 Singles Champion
- VICTORIA AZARENKA – 2013, 2012 Singles Champion
- VERA ZVONAREVA – 2011 Singles Champion
- COCO GAUFF – 2022, 2023 Doubles Champion
- DEMI SCHUURS – 2021 Doubles Champion
- NICOLE MELICHAR-MARTINEZ – 2021 Doubles Champion
- SU-WEI HSIEH – 2014, 2020 Doubles Champion
- GABRIELA DABROWSKI – 2018 Doubles Champion
- JELENA OSTAPENKO – 2018 Doubles Champion
- CHAN HAO-CHING – 2016, 2019 Doubles Champion
- SARA ERRANI – 2013 Doubles Champion
WORLD #4 JESSIE PEGULA WILL BE MISSED
Like Iga Swiatek – this year, many were hoping to see the doubles tandem of Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula make it three consecutive Doha titles. 2022’s Qatar TotalEnergies Open was a launching pad for the team. It was just their fourth event together, first title as a team. Since then, they captured 5 doubles titles (two here in Doha), and reached 8 finals – including the Roland Garros Final in 2022.
Not to mention, at last year’s event, Jessica became only the fifth player in tournament history to reach Doha’s championship match in both Singles and Doubles. Others who’ve accomplished the feat: Sadrine Testud (2001 Doubles Champion, Singles Finalist), Svetlana Kuznetsova (2004 Doubles Champion, Singles Finalist), Alicia Molik (Doubles Champion, Singles Finalist), and Carla Suarez Navarro (2016 Singles Champion, Doubles Finalist).
To this day, no player has won both titles in the same year.
QATAR TOTALENERGIES OPEN NOW A PERMANENT WTA-1000 FIXTURE
The Singles main draw includes 44 direct entries, along with 8 Qualifiers and 4 Wild Cards. Meanwhile, the Doubles draw includes 32 teams, including one Wild Card tandem.
We are extremely delighted to have all of the top players confirmed for the Qatar TotalEnergies Open 2024. Their eagerness to participate in this tournament further validates its esteemed reputation, acknowledging the exceptional organization and meticulous attention to detail that everyone involved has consistently demonstrated. We express our gratitude to TotalEnergies, the title sponsor, and all our other supporters for their unwavering commitment throughout the years, ensuring the continuous success of this tournament.
SAAD AL MOHANNADI, TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR. QATAR TOTAL ENERGIES OPEN
11-FEB to 17-FEB | KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL TENNIS AND SQUASH COMPLEX
QUALIFYING for the 22nd edition of the Qatar TotalEnergies Open begins Saturday, February 10th with a field of 32 talents, including four qualifying Wild Cards. As a WTA-1000 tournament, 8 qualifiers will earn entry into the main draw. After the first round on Saturday, the final round of qualifying will coincide with Day-1 of main draw action Sunday.
In the MAIN DRAW, WTA-1000 tournaments include a “field of 64.” However, the top-8 seeds receive a 1st-Round Bye – in other words, the top-8 talents don’t play until Round-2. Therefore, in reality, Doha’s main draw features a field of 56 talents.
The top-8 talents need five consecutive match victories to lift Doha’s prized falcon. The rest of the direct-entry players require six. Meanwhile, qualifiers will have to win eight straight matches to emerge the 2024 Qatar TotalEnergies Open champion.
Round-1 (24 matches) will be played on Sunday and Monday, followed by Round-2 (16 matches) on Tuesday, Round-3 (8 matches) on Wednesday, the Quarterfinals on Thursday, the Singles Semifinals and Doubles Final Friday, then the Singles Championship on Saturday.
Additionally, the DOUBLES draw includes a field of 32 teams. For talents competing in both singles and doubles, daily matches will be strategically scheduled throughout the week to ensure these players first compete in singles before playing their doubles match.
Total prize purse for this year’s tournament: $3,211,715.00.
