Announcer for the 2021 Qatar Total Open, Andy Taylor recaps Misaki Doi’s Round-1 victory over SaiSai Zheng. This was Doi’s second consecutive Lucky Loser appearance in Doha’s main draw. Last year, she fell to Tereza Martincova in the final round of qualifying. Remarkably, the two played again the following day in Round-1, where Martincova needed three sets to earn the win. This year, Doi gained main-draw entry after Amanda Anisimova sprained her ankle at the official player hotel and was forced to withdraw.
Fourth meeting. Doi’s first career victory over Zheng.
Before tonight, SaiSai Zheng had won all of their previous matches; most recently in the Semifinals of the 2018 ITF Event in Shenzhen.
[LL] Misaki Doi -83- (JPN) | Round-1 Announcer Introduction
For the second consecutive year, she is through to the main draw of the Qatar Total Open after a late withdrawal during the opening round – and she’s looking to make the most out of this year’s second chance. Six years ago, she won her first WTA Singles title Luxembourg. Then in 2016, she reached her first WTA-1000 Quarterfinal in Rome, the Round of 16 at Wimbledon, and jumped to a career-high ranking of World #30. A member of her country’s Olympic and Billie Jean King Cup Teams, she also owns 2 WTA Doubles titles in 3 career Finals. Back in Doha for her 4th Qatar Total Open – From Japan, please welcome Misaki Doi.
- R1 — W — SaiSai Zheng -48- (CHN) | Score: 6-4, 6-3
- Q3 — L — Jessica Pegula -44- (USA) | Score: 2-6, 2-6
- Q2 — W — Mirjam Bjorklund -320- (SWE) | Score: 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
- Q1 — W — Angelina Gabueva -468- (RUS) | Score: 6-1, 6-0
SaiSai Zheng -48- (CHN) | Round-1 Announcer Introduction
Two of her biggest career Singles victories have come right here on this court in Doha. Five years ago, ranked outside the WTA’s top-70, she stunned World #2 Angelique Kerber – defeating the reigning Australian Open Champion in straight-sets en-route to her first WTA-1000 Quarterfinal. Last year, she did it again – coming back from a set-down to upset World #6 Kiki Berterns to return to the Final-8. In all, she owns 1 WTA Singles title, 4 Doubles titles, and is a Grand Slam Doubles Finalist. Back for her 5th Qatar Total Open – From China, please welcome Zheng SaiSai.
- R1 — L — [LL] Misaki Doi -83- (JPN) | Score: 4-6, 3-6
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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 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.
