Announcer for the 2021 Qatar Total Open, Andy Taylor recaps Garbiñe Muguruza’s Round-1 victory over Abu Dhabi Finalist Veronika Kudermetova.
Second meeting. Muguruza remains undefeated against Kudermetova in the Arab Gulf
Garbiñe Muguruza -16- (ESP) | Round-1 Announcer Introduction
A Finalist here in Doha 3-years-ago, she is a 2-time Grand Slam Champion, owns 7 WTA Singles titles, and in 2017 – spent four weeks as the sport’s top-ranked player. Last year – she reached her 4th Major Final at the Australian Open, her 9th WTA-1000 Semifinal in Rome, and broke back inside the top-15. Last month in Melbourne, she reached her 13th career Tour-level Final at the Yarra Valley Classic – dropping only 10-games in 4-matches en-route to the championship match. Back in Doha for her 6th Qatar Total Open – From Spain, please welcome 2018 Finalist, Garbiñe Muguruza.
The only player to win a set off Naomi Osaka at this year’s Australian Open.
- R1 — W — Veronika Kudermetova -34- (RUS) | Score: 6-2, 7-6(4)
Veronika Kudermetova -34- (RUS) | Round-1 Announcer Introduction
After a tremendous start to the new season, she returns to Doha with a career-high ranking of World #34. In Abu Dhabi, she earned five consecutive match victories – including a deciding-set tiebreak win over World #5 Elina Svitolina – to reach her first career WTA Tour-level Final. Then, after a hard lockdown in Melbourne, she played through to the 3rd-Round of a Major for the second time. Since August, she’s also earned a pair of top-10 wins over Karolina Pliskova – and at the US Open, advanced to her first Grand Slam Doubles Semifinal with partner Anna Blinkova. Competing in her 3rd Qatar Total Open – From Russia, please welcome Veronika Kudermetova.
Last year in Round 2, she took World #9 Belinda Bencic to deciding set tiebreak.
- R1 — L — Garbiñe Muguruza -16- (ESP) | Score: 2-6, 6-7(4)
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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 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” on-court 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.
