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.
Since 2015, the players have voted the Qatar ExxonMobil Open “ATP-250 Tournament of the Year” FIVE times.
QATAR EXONMOBIL OPEN | SINGLES CHAMPIONS
QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN | DOUBLES CHAMPIONS
2024 QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN: 2-TIME DOHA CHAMPION, 5-TIME FINALIST RETURNS
ANDY MURRAY is back for his 8th Qatar ExxonMobil Open. A 2-time Doha champion and the only 5-time Doha Finalist – last year, the former World #1’s improbable heroics completely overshadowed champion Daniil Medvedev’s accomplishments. As a Wild Card, Andy won 3 dramatic, deciding-set victories – saving a total of seven match points to reach the Final. For the first time in years, center court at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex was packed for the championship match. Murray’s “Braveheart” triumphs were fully responsible.
Last year, DANIIL MEDVEDEV lifted the falcon in his Qatar ExxonMobil Open debut. In fact, his Doha triumph was part of a 19-match win-streak, where he won three consecutive titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai before falling to Carlos Alcaraz in the Indian Wells Final. Unfortunately, Daniil won’t be back to defend the title. The week prior to this year’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open, the World #3 withdrew from the tournament citing fatigue and a right foot injury.
Since cracking the ATP’s top-10 in 2019, Daniil has been a consistent hard court championship contender. In 2021, he won the US Open, earning a straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic in the Final. In fact, over the past five years, he’s reached 6 Grand Slam Finals: US Open (2019, 2021, 2023), Australian Open (2021, 2022, 2024). Last month, he and Jannik Sinner lit-up Rod Laver Arena in a nail-biting, brutally close Final where Sinner captured his first Grand Slam title, winning 142 points to Medvedev’s 141.
RAFAEL NADAL RETURN DELAYED
In what could be his final season on tour, 2014 Doha Champion RAFAEL NADAL was scheduled to return to Doha for the first time in 9-years. Last year, a hip injury sustained at the Australian Open left him sidelined all season. Then last month, he made his return in Brisbane, where he suffered a muscular micro-tear during his run to the Quarterfinals, forcing him to withdraw from the 2024 Australian Open.
Last Wednesday, Rafa announced that he’s still not ready to compete, so he won’t be part of this year’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open either. Which is unfortunate. Even before capturing his first of 23 Grand Slam Singles titles, Nadal found success in Qatar. At just 19-years-old, he teamed with countryman Albert Costa to hoist the 2005 Doubles trophy. In fact, Rafa is a 4-time Doha Doubles Champion (2005, 2009, 2011, 2015). In 2014, Nadal defeated Gael Monfils to earn the Singles title. Two years later in 2016, during his last Doha run, Nadal faced an unstoppable Djokovic in the championship match – one of the most locked-in performances of Novak’s career.
5 FORMER SINGLES CHAMPIONS IN 2024 FIELD
- ANDREY RUBLEV | Champion: 2020 – Finalist: 2018 – Doubles Champion: 2021
- ANDY MURRAY | Champion: 2008, 2009 – Finalist: 2007, 2017, 2023
- GAEL MONFILS | Champion: 2018 – Finalist: 2006, 2012, 2014
- ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT | Champion: 2022, 2019 – Finalist: 2021
- RICHARD GASQUET | Champion: 2013
In 2018 – just 6-months after capturing his first career title as a lucky loser in Umag, 20-year-old ANDREY RUBLEV ran the tables during his Doha debut. He saved match point against Guido Pella in the Semifinals, earning a spot in the championship match, where he faced a well-rested Gael Monfils who benefitted from a Semifinal walkover.
Two years later, in 2020 Andrey Rublev won 4 matches in 3 days to lift the falcon. Rain completely washed out Day 4, forcing Andrey to earn his Quarterfinal AND Semifinal victories on Friday before defeating Corentin Moutet in Saturday’s championship match.
In 2021, Andrey teamed with Aslan Karatsev to capture the Doha Doubles title.
19-FEB to 24-FEB | KHALIFA INTERNATIONAL TENNIS AND SQUASH COMPLEX
SINGLES QUALIFYING
Begins Saturday, February 17th with a field of 16 talents, including two qualifying Wild Cards. As an ATP-250 tournament, 4 qualifiers will earn entry into the main draw. Qualifying concludes with Sunday’s victors.
SINGLES MAIN DRAW
ATP-250 tournaments include a “field of 32.” However, the top-4 seeds receive a 1st-Round Bye – in other words, the top-4 talents don’t play until Round-2. Therefore, in reality, Doha’s main draw features a field of 28 talents.
The top-4 talents need four consecutive match victories to lift Doha’s prized falcon. The rest of the direct-entry players require five. Meanwhile, qualifiers will have to win seven straight matches to emerge the 2024 Qatar ExxonMobil Open champion.
Round-1 (12 matches) will be played on Monday and Tuesday, followed by Round-2 (8 matches) on Wednesday, the Quarterfinals on Thursday, the Singles Semifinals and Doubles Final Friday, then the Singles Championship on Saturday.
DOUBLES TOURNAMENT
The draw includes a field of 16 teams. For talents competing in both singles and doubles, daily matches will be strategically scheduled throughout the week to ensure these players first compete in singles before playing their doubles match.
Total prize purse for this year’s tournament: $1,493,465.
