Petra Kvitova owns this court. In 2018, she defeated Garbiñe Muguruza to capture her 22nd WTA Singles title, despite falling behind 0-5 by the second changeover. This year, Petra completely dominated after the second changeover — allowing Garbiñe only a single game the rest of way.
With 20 match victories in Doha, Petra Kvitova now owns 28 career WTA Singles titles. She and Victoria Azarenka are the only 3-time Finalists and 2-time champions in Qatar Total Open history. This year’s victory is even more gratifying because it’s Petra’s first title since the global coronavirus pandemic began. In fact, her most recent championship match appearance was on this court last year, where she fell to Aryna Sabalenka.
Just days following the 2020 Doha Final, the WTA (and all professional sports) suspended competition indefinitely. While the season did finally resume in late July, players returned to a very different, rhythm disrupting reality. No fans. Endless testing. Masks. Quarantine. Social distancing. Strict hotel-venue-hotel “bubbles.” This year’s Qatar Total Open wasn’t immune — but at least fans were allowed at reduced capacity, providing a taste of atmosphere so desperately missed.
UCOM | Filmed by Samir Saad, Produced by Frank Keller
Stadium Director Marius Borning and Announcer Andy Taylor
SCHUURS AND MELICHAR CAPTURE TITLE IN CHAMPIONSHIP TIEBREAK
A partnership born in a global pandemic, Demi and Nicole continue to pave a productive path since first joining forces last September. In just their second event together, they captured the clay title in Strasbourg. Semifinalists last month at the Australian Open, they’re now 16-4 as a tandem — with 2-titles in less than 6-months. Impressive. This was actually Demi’s second Doha Final. In 2019, she and Anna-Lena Grönefeld fell to the Chan sisters in a championship tiebreak.
Meanwhile, Jelena Ostapenko continues to excel on the Doha doubles court. In 2018, she captured the title with partner Gabriela Dabrowski. Last year, they were Finalists. This week, she teamed with Monica Niculescu to reach the championship match again. Jelena is now one of only 6 players who’s contested the Doha Doubles title three or more times. Needless to say, she adores Qatar; her WTA breakthrough happened here in 2016, when as an 18-year-old ranked World #88, she reached her first Premier-5 (now WTA-1000) Singles Final.
Recaps of the 21 matches played on Center Court
The Championships
The Quarterfinals
Round of 16
Round 1
Qualifying Rounds
2021 Qatar Total Open: Different Date. Unusual Circumstances.
In 2021, due to the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, the WTA Tour rescheduled the Qatar Total Open to take place the first week of March. A portion of the season typically carved-out for week-1 of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. When Indian Wells postponed its tournament due to COVID-19’s continued threat to the Coachella Valley, the Tour reinvented the 2021 calendar.
As a result, in January Abu Dhabi hosted the season’s first event. A WTA-500 tournament specifically created to get players back on court. Dubai then hosted Australian Open qualifying, while main-draw entrants traveled to Australia for two weeks of quarantine. Meanwhile, Tennis Australia moved the Australian Open to the second week of February to accommodate the country’s strict pandemic protocols. Immediately following quarantine, the WTA hosted several new tournaments in Melbourne Park. All designed as lead-up events to the season’s first Major. After Oz, Adelaide hosted its postponed tournament, while most traveled to the Arab Gulf to prepare for the Qatar Total Open and Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Doha: Rebranded in 2021 from Premier to a WTA-500 Tournament.
The WTA also rebranded the 2021 Qatar Total Open a WTA-500 event, after the Tour realigned its tournament tier structure during the off-season. Rather than International, Premier, Premier-5 and Premier Mandatory; starting in 2021, all WTA events became classified as WTA-250, WTA-500 and WTA-1000 tournaments (similar to the ATP Tour).
Moving forward, the Qatar Total Open and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships will continue to alternate the WTA’s two Arab Gulf events. More specifically, on “even” years the Qatar Total Open will host the WTA-1000 event with a field of 64. Consequently, during “odd” years, it will feature a WTA-500 event with a field of 32.
Coronavirus: Delivering a top-shelf international event responsibly
While the Qatar Tennis Federation allowed fans to attend the 2021 Qatar Total Open; the QTF sold tickets at reduced capacity. All wore masks, encountered temperature checks upon arrival, and adhered to social-distancing guidelines – required to sit several seats apart.
Players, WTA staff and umpires lived in their own “bubble” at the Four Seasons. Meanwhile, tournament support, lines-people, ball persons and the announcer stayed in a separate “bubble” at Ezdan Palace. All underwent routine coronavirus testing and regular temperature checks. Everyone was required to wear masks at all times (except players and umpires during competition). The locker-room was off-limits for the athletes until their match was on-deck, and none were allowed to shower on site. Every aspect of post-match recovery took place at the player hotel.
Pandemic Event Hosting: Champions adjust
From behind-the-scenes pandemic protocols to extreme “socially-distanced” announcer interviews and trophy presentations – the Qatar Tennis Federation and WTA adhered to every science-guided precaution to ensure the safety of all involved. And by doing so, despite all of the obvious challenges, delivered another top-shelf experience for both players and fans on site and those watching around the world.
Hosting high-profile international events during a devastating pandemic is possible. That is, when organizers have the courage, compassion and ingenuity to reinvent the way things are done; when they have the flexibility and financial support to adjust expectation. And as we’ve all learned after one year of separation, isolation, anxiety and heart-break: the “escape” that televised sports provides is invaluable to mental health. A welcome distraction to a very un-welcome new reality.
With luxurious amenities and the Qatar Tennis Federation's determined focus to make every athlete feel at home, Doha offers an easy-going environment for players and their teams. From the facilities to the transportation, from the professional staff to the fan-focused presentation, Qatar offers a top-shelf production players eagerly anticipate.
Very humbled to be back as the Voice of the Qatar Total Open, and excited to make lasting memories with this year's field of tremendous talent during these difficult times.