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Doha
With Roger Federer making a welcome return to the ATP Tour after a 13-month absence at the 2021 US$ 787,930 Qatar ExxonMobil Open, where the Swiss superstar is a three-time former winner, the challenge gets tougher for World No. 4 Dominic Thiem, defending champion Andrey Rublev, and 2019 winner Roberto Bautista Agut among the frontrunners.
Denis Shapovalov, David Goffin, who captured his fifth ATP Tour title at the recent Open Sud de France in Montpellier defeating Agut, and former World No. 3 Stanislas Wawrinka, a 2008 Doha runner-up, will also feature at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.
Meanwhile, serving a reminder of his good form Rublev extended his phenomenal winning run at ATP 500 events to 20 matches on Sunday when he defeated Marton Fucsovics 7-6(4), 6-4 to win the ABN AMRO tournament in Rotterdam. The World No. 8 also stretched his winning streak in ATP Tour championship matches to seven victories.
Rublev saved all four break points he faced to capture his fourth straight title at ATP 500-level after one hour and 50 minutes. Prior to his title run in Rotterdam, the fourth seed also claimed titles in his final three ATP 500 events of 2020 in Hamburg, St. Petersburg and Vienna.
“I feel happy. It has been a really great week,” said Rublev. “It has been a great past year and a half. We will see if I can keep going, if I can keep this level of competing (and) being a Top 10 (player).”
Since 2009, only Roger Federer (28) and Andy Murray (21) have compiled longer winning streaks at the level.
“I was not even thinking (about the streak) until (the media) were starting to put on the internet 16 matches, 17 matches, 18 matches,” said Rublev. “Of course, it is a great number, but I was not even thinking about it… It is a great feeling to know that I did something that not many players did.”
Rublev will now be on his way to Doha where the main draw action gets under way on Monday with Qatar’s wild card entrant Mubarak Shannan Zayid taking on Russiand wild card Aslan Karatsev at the centre court at 2.30pm.
The winner meeting top seeded Thiem.
The match will be followed by India’s qualifier Ramkumar Ramanathan and Kazakh Alexander Bublik.
Among the big guns to zoom into action in the evening will be Frenchman Richard Gasquet against Slovakian Blaz Rola.
Later, the fifth-seeded Bautista Agut will meet American Reilly Opelka.
Second-placed Federer has a first round bye and will play the winner of Frenchman Jeremy Chardy and Brit Daniel Evans’ match in the Round of 16 on Tuesday.
Wawrinka will be playing South African qualifier Lloyd Harris in his opening match.
The sixth-seeded Belgian David Goffin, world ranked 14, meets Croatian Filip Krajinovic while Rublev with a first round bye will await the winner of Richard Gasquet and qualifer Blaz Rola of Slovakia.
Adding power and more contest to the line-up is Canadian Denis Shapovalov, ranked 11. The exciting 21-year-old awaits the winner of Australian Christopher O’Connell and Canadian Vasek Pospisil clash.
Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, known for his giant-killing skills, has a tough opening round match against Australian John Millman.
The other opening round match-ups feature Hungarian Marton Fucsovics vs Croatian Dusan Lajovic, and Italian Lorenzo Sonego against American Taylor Fritz.
Then there’s another Croatian Borna Coric who plays wilcard Tunisian Malek Jaziri.
Given the strong 32-player draw field exciting battles can be envisaged enroute to the round of 16 where the top stars will swing into action.
While the young would be eager to prove their class, the experienced will aim to excel with their sublime strokeplay. All in all a thrilling six-day of top class tennis is guaranteed at the Khalifa International Complex.QEO ROLL OF HONOUR
Most Titles, Singles: Roger Federer (3)
Most Titles, Doubles: Rafael Nadal (4)
Oldest Champion: David Ferrer, 32, in 2015
Youngest Champion: Andy Murray, 20, in 2008
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1s Roger Federer in 2005-’06, Rafael Nadal in 2014, Novak Djokovic in 2017
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 124 Rainer Schuettler in 1999
Most Match Wins: Roger Federer (26)
2020 Finals
Singles: (2) Andrey Rublev (RUS) d. (Q) Corentin Moutet (FRA) 6-2, 7-6(3)
Doubles: Rohan Bopanna/Wesley Koolhof d. Luke Bambridge/Santiago Gonzalez 3-6, 6-2, 10-6Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2021 Monday Order of PlayCENTRE COURT
Start At: 2:30pm
[WC] Mubarak Shannan ZAYID (QAT)
vs [WC] Aslan KARATSEV (RUS)
Followed by
[Q] Ramkumar RAMANATHAN (IND)
vs Alexander BUBLIK (KAZ)
Not Before 6pm
Richard GASQUET (FRA)
vs [Q] Blaz ROLA (SLO)
Followed by
Reilly OPELKA (USA)
vs 5-Roberto BAUTISTA AGUT (ESP)
COURT A
Start At: 2:30pm
Nikoloz BASILASHVILI (GEO)
vs John MILLMAN (AUS)
Followed by
Lorenzo SONEGO (ITA)
vs Taylor FRITZ (USA)
Followed by
Doubles
1-Juan Sebastian CABAL (COL) & Robert FARAH (COL)
vs [WC] Malek JAZIRI (TUN)
Mubarak Shannan ZAYID (QAT)
Followed by
3-Ivan DODIG (CRO) & Filip POLASEK (SVK)
vs Marcus DANIELL (NZL) & Philipp OSWALD (AUT)
Results (Qualifying Singles)
Second Round
Qualifying - [1] L. Harris (RSA) beat [6] L. Lacko (SVK) 6-4, 6-3
Qualifying - [7] R. Ramanathan (IND) beat [2] N. Gombos (SVK) 6-3, 6-1
Qualifying - [3] C. O’Connell (AUS) beat [5] T. Fabbiano (ITA) 6-3, 7-6(7)
Qualifying - [4] B. Rola (SLO) beat [Alt] T. Puetz (GER) 7-6(5), 6-2.
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08/03/2021
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