2019 Qatar Exxonmobil Open - General Discussion thread

[RF-18]

In 10 Days Djokovic will open his 2019 campaign. Looking for his 3rd title in Qatar. Thiem and Khachanov are other candidates for the title.

31 December - 6 January

Entry list

1 DJOKOVIC, Novak SRB 1

2 THIEM, Dominic AUT 8

3 KHACHANOV, Karen RUS 11

4 CECCHINATO, Marco ITA 20

5 BASILASHVILI, Nikoloz GEO 21

6 GOFFIN, David BEL 22

7 BAUTISTA AGUT, Roberto ESP 24

8 GASQUET, Richard FRA 26

9 VERDASCO, Fernando ESP 28

10 KOHLSCHREIBER, Philipp GER 35

11 FUCSOVICS, Marton HUN 37

12 SEPPI, Andreas ITA 38

13 MANNARINO, Adrian FRA 42

14 JARRY, Nicolas CHI 43

15 DZUMHUR, Damir BIH 47

16 LAJOVIC, Dusan SRB 48

17 HAASE, Robin NED 50

18 KUKUSHKIN, Mikhail KAZ 53

19 BERRETTINI, Matteo ITA 54

20 HERBERT, Pierre-Hugues FRA 55

21 PELLA, Guido ARG 58

22 GOJOWCZYK, Peter GER 59

23 COPIL, Marius ROU 60

24 LOPEZ, Feliciano ESP 64

25 RAMOS-VINOLAS, Albert ESP 65

 

[3fees]

ATP 250 , Starting December 31,2018 Ending January 5, 2019, No Nadal, Federer or Murray, looks like 2 of the top 10 will be playing.

Cheers
3Fees

 

[Red Rick]

This really looks like the kind of tournament where Djokovic is going to look rusty for 3 rounds before playing better in the finale only to finally be kinda sharp in the 3rd round in Australia and then kicks into high gear in the QF.

But should be interesting. Let's see if Khachanov can keep the consistent high level on HC

 

[I Am Finnish]

Decent field

 

[Raining hopes]

Good field. Don't care whether Novak wins it or not, AO is all that matters. Hope he gets good match practice. If takes home the title that's cherry on the top.

 

[Enceladus]

Tomas Berdych returns on the ATP Tour already in Doha, he has gained WC from the organizers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Qatar_ExxonMobil_Open#Other_entrants

 

[EloQuent]

I have a feeling it's going to be Khachanov. Big test for him is slams.

 

[uscwang]

Stan is in Doha too.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Good warm up for Djoko before AO!

 

[Mainad]

It will be interesting to see another potential clash between Djokovic and Khachanov before the AO.

 

[Enceladus]

No1e will play men's doubles with his brother Mark. Their opponents for the first round are Cem İlkel and Mubarak Shannan Zayid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Qatar_ExxonMobil_Open_–_Doubles#Draw

 

[I Am Finnish]

Djokovic easily

 

[Enceladus]

Men's singles draw:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Qatar_ExxonMobil_Open_–_Singles#Draw

Khachanov-Wawrinka or Berdych-Kohlschreiber in 1R!

 

[EloQuent]

Men's singles draw:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Qatar_ExxonMobil_Open_–_Singles#Draw

Khachanov-Wawrinka or Berdych-Kohlschreiber in 1R!

I'm sure it's just luck that the Qatari player ranked 1500 is facing a "Q/LL" in R1.

 

[BrokenGears]

What is Nole’s draw looking like?

 

[Nostradamus]

lets see what kind of shape Goffin is in. He should go deep into the aussie open again, he could be a threat to win it all as well

 

[Meles]

Glad to see Brisbane has finally stolen the limelight from this horror of an event. That being said the draw isn't quite the farce of years past:
1. Djoko has a lot of fresh blood to deal with instead of a bunch of geratrics he's been mopping up for years
2. Hard to complain about Wawrinka v Khachanov first round
3. Bottom half is the usual travesty, but Thiem at 2 has lost to the walking bye Herbert before and Herbert is pursuing singles with renewed vigor. Bendych and Goffin have nice records against Thiem and might be his 3rd and 4th matches if he does not stumble walking over the bye. @stringertom ?

 

[3fees]

Djokovic v Dzumhur 1st round , semi finals Khachanov if he gets thru

Schedule
* Qualifying: Saturday at 11:00am; Sunday at 3:30pm
* Main draw: Monday - Thursday at 3:30pm; Friday at 4:30pm
* Doubles final: Friday, 4 January, before singles semi-finals
* Singles final: Saturday, 5 January, at 6pm

Doha, Qatar time to PST to EST 4:30-5:00 PM --5:30-6:00 AM-8:30-9:00 AM

If thats too tough- @Meles will show how its figured on a abacus, GMT +3

Cheers
3fees

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

 

[Red Rick]

Djokovic playing doubles with Marko. Naturally they draw the other WC team.

Talk about easing into your ATP season

 

[Red Rick]

Lol, Marko with the clutch ace on the deciding point in the first game.

The clutch is genetic. The raw tennis talent, a bit less so

 

[Red Rick]

Glad to see Brisbane has finally stolen the limelight from this horror of an event. That being said the draw isn't quite the farce of years past:
1. Djoko has a lot of fresh blood to deal with instead of a bunch of geratrics he's been mopping up for years
2. Hard to complain about Wawrinka v Khachanov first round
3. Bottom half is the usual travesty, but Thiem at 2 has lost to the walking bye Herbert before and Herbert is pursuing singles with renewed vigor. Bendych and Goffin have nice records against Thiem and might be his 3rd and 4th matches if he does not stumble walking over the bye. @stringertom ?

Walking bye lmao

 

[Red Rick]

Djokovic/Djokovic breaks, solely due to the fact that Marko's overheads are better than Novaks

 

[Paulreedsmith]

Ohhh poor Tomas. The end is near. He is forced to play in those tacky Hydrogen clothes!

 

[Red Rick]

Djokovic bro's prevail in the super tiebreak. Most animated reaction from Novak since winning the USO.

 

[Red Rick]

OMG Look who's back @Meles

BERD PERSON BACK TO TERMINATE THE TOUR

 

[stringertom]

1R opponents Khachanov and Stanimal teaming up today in dubs. Will they take turns beaning each other with “errant” first serves???

 

[DSH]

money, money, money.

 

[Zardoz7/12]

 

[stringertom]

money, money, money.

Russian Money in a topsy turvy first set with Seppi. 5-5 with two breaks each.

 

[stringertom]

Top two dubs teams bounced in 1R. Marach/Pavic lose the superbreaker to Dzumhur/Lajovic and Murray/Soares lose in straight sets to Fucsovics/Pella.

 

[stringertom]

Money takes the first set 7-5 with two breaks and a hold from down 5-4 on Seppi’s serve.

 

[Red Rick]

Top two dubs teams bounced in 1R. Marach/Pavic lose the superbreaker to Dzumhur/Lajovic and Murray/Soares lose in straight sets to Fucsovics/Pella.

Marko's once in a life time chance for a 250 semi?

 

[Red Rick]

Rublev up 4-0 in the 2nd.

He looks a lot healthier and fitter than he used to. Like he sleeps more than 2 hours per night and added a solid 30 grams of muscle

@Sysyphus things are looking up this year, no?

 

[stringertom]

Marko's once in a life time chance for a 250 semi?

All-Balkan QF. I like Dzumhur/Lajovic to expose the false dawn of Marko.

 

[stringertom]

Rublev up 4-0 in the 2nd.

He looks a lot healthier and fitter than he used to. Like he sleeps more than 2 hours per night and added a solid 30 grams of muscle

@Sysyphus things are looking up this year, no?

30 grams, huh? All in his right bicep.

 

[Red Rick]

Rublev beats Seppi 75 61.

If he wins over 43% 2nd serve points this year, he might be going places

 

[stringertom]

Money 7-5 6-1. Doha agrees with him!

 

[The Green Mile]

It's hilarious that Nikoloz starts off the year with such a Nikoloz scoreline. 6-1 1-6 6-1 over ARV.

 

[BGod]

Wawrinka over Kachanov.

 

[oldmanfan]

Wawrinka over Kachanov.

I want both of them to do well here.
That sux!

 

[3fees]

Congrats to RBA blnt Berenttini 61 64,,Agut is a shoe in for Final 8

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Goffin v Berankis 63 46 56 on serve, Goffin is being tested.. Looks like Tie Breaker to decide the match

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Goffin v Berankis 63 46 66 , Tie breaker on

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Goffin v Berankis 63 46 66 13 Richard up a break

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Goffin v Berankis 63 46 66 2-4

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Goffin v Berankis 63 46 66 25,,David is reeling

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Goffin v Berankis 63 46 66 , 26 4 match points for Ricardas

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Goffin v Berankis 63 46 66 , 36 3 match points for Ricardas

Cheers
3Fees

 

[3fees]

Goffin v Berankis 63 46 66 , 46 2 match points for Ricardas

Cheers
3Fees