Qatar gears up to host ‘exceptional’ tennis and padel tournaments
Tareq Zainal, Secretary General of the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation. Photo: Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula
Doha’s Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex will soon become the center of attraction as Qatar prepares to host prestigious tennis and padel tournaments that will see the world’s best players show off their skills at the internationally renowned venue .
The high-level action in Doha will kick off with the Qatar TotalEnergies Open – a WTA 500 event – taking place February 13-18. Nine of the world’s top ten players, including world number one and defending champion Iga Swiatek, recently crowned Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, and Ons Jabeur – the highest-ranked African and Arab tennis player in the story – should feature in the tournament.
Hot off the heels of a one-day hiatus, the ATP Tour’s elite players will begin their quest for glory at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open taking place February 20-25.
The highly anticipated tournament will be followed by the Ooredoo Qatar Major Premier Padel which will take place from February 26 to March 5. The event will serve as Premier Padel’s inaugural event for the 2023 season.
“We will hold three major tournaments in a row, which is a big challenge for us, but our preparations are on track,” Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF) General Secretary Tareq said yesterday. Zainal at The Peninsula.
“We are confident that we will be ready to run these tournaments appropriately and provide fans with a great experience as top players will be competing in these competitions,” he added.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions in recent years, the QTSBF has failed to hold its signature tennis tournaments as in the past, but Zainal assured that upcoming events will be “exceptional”.
A view of the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
“All family activities will resume this year. Many programs are planned to entertain the fans. It will not only be matches on the courts but many other activities will take place on the sidelines to provide a memorable experience for all spectators. We hope everyone will enjoy these three tournaments in the coming weeks,” the senior QTSBF official said on the sidelines of the launch of ExxonMobil Qatar’s promotional activities ahead of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.
While the roster for the Qatar TotalEnergies Open has been announced, Zainal said the Qatar ExxonMobil Open will also feature an array of top players, who will battle for the Falcon Trophy.
“At least three to four players from the top ten will be here in Doha to participate in the ExxonMobil Qatar Open,” he said, adding that 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal was also on the list before an injury at the Australian Open decides it. for six to eight weeks of action.
“We hope for Nadal’s quick and full recovery. We would love to see him in action in Doha next year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zainal thanked ExxonMobil Qatar for supporting QTSBF for three decades.
“ExxonMobil Qatar is our long-term partner. The successful tournaments that QTSBF has organized all these years were not possible without their support.
They have been with us since Qatar first hosted this tournament in 1993. We are very proud of this partnership with ExxonMobil Qatar,” he said.