Seven years ago, at just 20-years-old, Andrey Rublev earned his first shot at Doha’s falcon week-1 of the season. That year, he defeated Argentina’s Guido Pella in a deciding-set tiebreak to reach the 2018 Final (where he fell to Gael Monfils). Two years later – with 4 straight-set triumphs – he captured the 2020 title during a rain-soaked tournament . . . forced to win both his Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches on the same day. The following week, he’d go on to win Adelaide – cracked the top-10 following a Quarterfinal run at Roland Garros – and ever since (for nearly five consecutive years), has remained one of the Tour’s top-10 staples.
This year, in Doha’s ATP-500 debut, the 27-year-old required raw endurance and stubborn determination. After straight-sets victories over Bublik and Borges – he returned to center court for three epic, marathon matches. In the Quarters, he overcame World #8 Alex de Minaur – finally securing the win on his 8th match point in a deciding-set tiebreak. In the Semis, he went the distance with Felix Auger-Aliassime. Then, after splitting two nail-biting sets – the World #10 outlasted Jack Draper in the Final to earn his 17th career Singles title.
DRAPER SHINES IN DOHA DEBUT, CLIMBS TO A CAREER-HIGH RANKING.
Last season, Jack Draper reached his first Grand Slam Semifinal at the US Open – becoming the first man from Great Britain to reach New York’s Final-4 since Andy Murray in 2012. After a run to the Vienna-500 Final, he completed the season as a year-end top-15 talent for the first time.
Off-season injuries prevented Jack from a tactical-focus before January’s Australian Open – yet he still somehow managed a run to Melbourne’s Round of 16 with three 5-set triumphs. With three weeks off before Doha, he had time to retool at home – and it clearly worked to his advantage.
After straight-sets victories over Aussies Popyrin and O’Connell – the 23-year-old went the distance with Berrettini (who defeated Djokovic in Round-1) and Lehecka (who eliminated Alcaraz in the Quarterfinals) to reach his second ATP-500 Final, and 5th career Final overall. On Monday, thanks to his continued endurance, Jack will wake up with a career-high ranking of World #12.
Stadium Announcer | Photo: Samer Al-Rejjal
Voice Artist Andy Taylor | Photo: Markus Ulmer
CASH AND GLASSPOOL TRIUMPH, DOHA’S FIRST ALL-ENGLAND FINAL.
Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool have quickly become one of the most promising new tandems on Tour. Last September, in just their second event as a team, they captured the ATP-500 title in Tokyo – then last month, started the new season with a trophy lift in Brisbane and a Quarterfinal run at the Australian Open.
Here in Doha – they went the distance in the first two rounds, before a straight-sets dismissal of legend Ivan Dodig and Yuki Bhambri in the Semis.
The Final pitted the pair against two pillars of British Doubles – former World #1’s Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski. Unfazed, Julian and Lloyd controlled the match from ball-up – earned an opening break – then completed the triumph with two late breaks in the second.
After lifting their 3rd trophy together, on Monday Cash cracked the ATP’s top-20 for the first time . . . The two are clearly poised to become one of 2025’s top tandems.
BELOW: ALL CENTER COURT MATCH RECAPS | SINGLES RESULTS | DOUBLES RESULTS
ANDY TAYLOR. 2025 QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN
Since the 2011 Doha Arab Games, 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 professional athletes in Tennis, Squash and Padel. In the sports community, 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 23 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, Andy narrates video content used in the stadium and at special events throughout the tournament.
For 27-years, Doha was a week-one beacon for the ATP Tour's elite to knock the rust off, and fine-tune their talents for the coming season. Today, the tournament takes place in February, a week following the Qatar TotalEnergies Open. With top-shelf amenities and the Qatar Tennis Federation's determined focus to make every athlete feel at home, Doha offers a relaxed, distraction-free environment to excel on the court. From the facilities to transportation - the professional staff to fan-focused presentation - Qatar offers a tremendous experience for each player between the rigors of the season's first Major and the Sunshine Double in the United States. It's no wonder players have voted the event ATP-250 Tournament of the Year in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2024.
Today, we're excited to launch a new era as one of 16 ATP-500 tournaments on the tennis calendar. Happy to be back as the Voice of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, and excited to make lasting memories with this year's field of tremendous talent.