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.
WHAT IS PADEL?
Simply put, Padel is geometric eye candy. While it may not require the endurance and court coverage of tennis, it demands the angular dexterity and hand-eye coordination of squash. Its comparison to both is obvious. While smaller than a regulation tennis court, Padel’s field of play is similar in dimension and design, with a net dividing two teams of competitors. Meanwhile, the glass walls that encase the court affirms squash’s influence, though the relationship mostly ends there.
Scored identically to tennis, padel’s ball is similar to standard tennis balls – however serves are delivered underhand, and players wield composit padels rather than stringed racquets. Rallies are rapid fire, long in duration, and athletes strategically use the glass walls to deflect drives in angles awkward for opponents to return.
Ultimately, to be successful, reaction-time and tactics carry far more value than power. No player benefits by having an overpowering serve. Shot placement, lobs and angular creativity are cornerstones of the game. When four tactical clinicians do battle inside the glass (and in thrilling moments, outside the glass) – professional Padel is a sight to behold.
THE ORIGINS OF PADEL
According to lore, the sport originated in Acapulco during the late 1960’s and has ballooned in popularity ever since, specifically in Spain and Argentina. Today, most of the sport’s top athletes hail from these two nations, although Italy has also developed a passion for Padel over the years.
WHAT IS PREMIER PADEL?
For decades, the FIP (International Padel Federation) has been the governing body of the sport. That said, other privately-owned tours – mainly in Europe and South America – staged the majority of income-generating tournaments for professional talents. While grateful for the opportunity to earn a living, the players had little influence over the tours, their payouts, and often found their individual seasons dictated by sponsors.
Then – for the first time – in 2021 the FIP staged the World Padel Championship outside of Europe or the Americas. Padel’s popularity had recently exploded in the Middle East – and the Qatar Tennis Federation, under the direction of Paris St. Germain owner Nasser Bin Ghanim Al Khelaifi, won the bid. Following the event’s highly successful Asian debut, Khelaifi agreed to finance the launch of the FIP’s newest endeavor: The Premier Padel Tour.
Working alongside the player’s association, the FIP established an eight tournament tour built for growth – and in 2023, the sport exploded. That year, Premier Padel acquired the World Padel Tour, bringing all the players under one umbrella. Today, the Tour stages 25 tournaments in 18 countries, spanning 5 continents. Like tennis, there are four “Majors,” offering players the richest prize pool and points. Additionally, there are ten P1 (Premier One) events, ten P2 (Premier Two) events, and the year-end Tour Finals staged in Barcelona. As the sport continues to blossom, Premier Padel will add even more events to the calendar.
- MAJORS: Qatar, Italy, Paris (Roland Garros), Mexico
- FINALS: Barcelona
- P1 EVENTS: Riyadh, Acapulco, Argentina, Andalusia, Madrid, Rotterdam, New Giza, Dubai, Kuwait City, Milan
- P2 EVENTS: Puerto Cabello, Brussels, Andalusia, Asuncion, Santiago, Bordeaux, Genova, Finland, Dusseldorf, Sweden
PREMIER PADEL’S MAJOR CHAMPIONS
In 2022, Paquito Navarro and Martin Di Nenno captured the sport’s first Major in Doha. World #1’s Juan Lebron and Ale Galan lifted the next two Major trophies in Rome and Paris. While Arturo Coello and Fernando Belasteguin captured the season’s final Major in Mexico.
In 2023, Martin Di Nenno lifted Doha’s trophy again, this time alongside Franco Stupaczuk. Arturo Coello and Agustin Tapia captured Italy, while Paquito Navarro and Federico Chingotto triumphed in Paris. Unfortunately, the Mexico Major was cancelled due to an impending hurricane. Additionally, the ladies joined the Tour in 2023. Marta Ortega and Gemma Triay captured the first women’s Major in Italy – while Paula Josemaria and Ariana Sanchez lifted the trophy in Paris.
Who will earn Doha’s titles this year? Welcome to the Oordeoo Qatar Major 2024.
