Announcer for the 2021 Qatar Total Open, Andy Taylor recaps Jelena Ostapenko’s Round-1 victory over Kiki Bertens. It was Kiki’s first match in five months, after Achilles surgery in October. Due to that injury – last September in Strasbourg, Bertens retired in set-3 of her opening match versus Ostapenko. The following week at Roland Garros, Kiki powered through three victories, before finally ending the season and opting for surgery.
Fifth meeting. Ostapenko now owns a 3-2 advantage
[WC] Jelena Ostapenko -51- (LAT) | Round-1 Announcer Introduction
A Wild Card in this year’s draw, she has been one of the most successful talents here in Doha over the past 5-years. In 2016, she made her Doha debut as an 88th-ranked 18-year-old – and was unstoppable, earning 5 consecutive wins to reach her first WTA-1000 Final. A year later, she captured the 2017 French Open title, becoming the first player from Latvia to win a Major. Today, she owns 3 Singles titles, has been ranked as high as World #5, and continues to ALSO excel here in Doha on the doubles court – where she and partner Gabriela Dabrowski captured the title in 2018, and returned to the Final last year. Competing in her 5th Qatar Total Open – from Latvia, please welcome Jelena Ostapenko.
- R1 — W — [5] Kiki Bertens -11- (NED) | Score: 6-0, 6-2
[5] Kiki Bertens -11- (NED) | Round-1 Announcer Introduction
Few are as excited to be here this week than the World #11 from the Netherlands. Ankle surgery in October kept her off the court for nearly 5-months, but finally – she is back and ready to launch her 2021 season right here in Doha. She owns 10 WTA Singles titles, is a Grand Slam Semifinalist, has been ranked as high as World #4, and has qualified for the year-end WTA Finals twice – reaching the Semifinals in her 2018 debut. A Quarterfinalist here in Doha 2-years-ago — From the Netherlands, please welcome the highest ranked Dutch player in WTA history, Kiki Bertens.
- R1 — L — [WC] Jelena Ostapenko -51- (LAT) | Score: 0-6, 2-6
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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 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” 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.
