Qatar ExxonMobil Open - Doha - January 4th to 10th

[Blinkism]

Qatar ExxonMobil Open - Doha - January 4th to 9th

The first week of the 2010 ATP World Tour has begun!

The 2010 Qatar ExxonMobil Open will be a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It will be the 18th edition of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, and part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the 2010 ATP World Tour. It will place at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar, from January 4 through January 9, 2010.

Seeded players (#1-8, left to right):

* Tsonga has withdrawn due to wrist injuries

Andy Murray, the defending Champion, is not participating this year. Andy Roddick, last year's finalist, will also not be returning this year.

Andreas Seppi is the highest ranked unseeded player.

The wildcards are
Younes El Aynaoui
Abdulla Hajji
Karim Maamoun

Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez are the defending doubles Champions, they will be participating this year in defense of their title from 2009.

Singles Main Draw
Singles Qualification Draw
Doubles Main Draw

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

Whens the draw out?

 

[Blinkism]

Whens the draw out?

Well, considering the first round of the qualifying has already finished, I'm going to assume it's today or tomorrow.

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

Well, considering the first round of the qualifying has already finished, I'm going to assume it's today or tomorrow.

Yeah, I looked at that, but recognized very few people (I recognized very few people on the main draw!) What intresting seeding...

1. Federer-1
2. Nadal-2
3. Davydenko- 6
4. Youzhny- 19

 

[CMM]

Nadal's half of the draw. I don't have the other one.

He'll also play doubles with Marc Lopez.

 

[OliverSimon]

Going from rank 6 to 19 is a big gap. I wonder where everyone else will be.
Its also nice to see El Aynaoui received a Wildcard.

 

[Michael Bluth]

I hope Rog takes it over Rafa.

 

[Cesc Fabregas]

Davydenko is on Federer's side so Nadal should really get to the final. Hope its a Fed v Nadal final.

 

[All-rounder]

Davydenko is taking this

 

[Outbeyond]

Thanks for kicking this off, Blinkism!! Am very excited about Doha.

I looked up the ATP website on this and found some more info for our perusal. Now let me see if I can copy the image onto this message...am still very much a beginner with this fancier tactic...

This is the entire Singles Draw schedule:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2010/451/mds.pdf

And here's the Doubles Draw schedule:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2010/451/mdd.pdf

And this is the Order of Play for tomorrow, Jan. 3rd:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2010/451/op.pdf

Well, as you can see, I struggled with getting the actual images here so defaulted to the easy method of pasting links! Sad, I know. I'm going to keep trying offline here, but hope is fading...

If anyone else is good with pasting the images, please go ahead and do so!

 

[OliverSimon]

Where is Jose Acasuso ?

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

 

[norbac]

Let's go Misha!

 

[Telepatic]

So Murray is falling to #5 ahead AO?

 

[norbac]

So Murray is falling to #5 ahead AO?

Probably for a week. But Delpo isn't defending his 250 from Auckland last year so he'll probably fall back to number 5 in a few weeks.

Murray I think will be seeded 5 for the Aussie Open though, since the seeds for the Aussie Open and the draw come out before the Auckland points are taken off.

 

[Love Game]

Nadal's half of the draw. I don't have the other one.
...
He'll also play doubles with Marc Lopez.

I was wondering about that! Those two won it last year ... funny trophy ceremony!

And remember when the cat ran out on the court right in front of Rafa just as he was about to serve? ... wow ... seems like just last week! :shock:

 

[Love Game]

Probably for a week. But Delpo isn't defending his 250 from Auckland last year so he'll probably fall back to number 5 in a few weeks.

Murray I think will be seeded 5 for the Aussie Open though, since the seeds for the Aussie Open and the draw come out before the Auckland points are taken off.

I've heard that, too .... supposedly gives Delpo an easier draw as no. 4? :???:

 

[norbac]

I've heard that, too .... supposedly gives Delpo an easier draw as no. 4? :???:

Yeah, cause as the no. 4 seed Delpo wouldn't have to face any of the top 3 before the semi's, while as seeded number 5 he would probably have to face one of the top 4 in the quarters.

 

[TennisFan3]

I thought Delpo was playing here? Wasn't he coming here at the last minute?

Also WTF is Rafa playing a 250 event? Didn't he learn from knee problems last yr?

 

[Blinkism]

...

Thanks for posting the draw, JBF#1!

Nadal got lucky not to have Davydenko in his draw.

This makes a finals appearance all the more necessary if he wants to meet a top player in action before the AO.

Beating Garcia-Lopez and Youzhny is not enough practice to defend his Australian Open title, IMO.

Anyways, this looks like a much easier draw than he had last year. Hopefully, he can take full advantage of that.

Looking forward to a Nadal-Federer final

 

[MichaelNadal]

Rafa has a nice draw, should make the final.... Ivo and Davydenko could give Fed trouble.

 

[Outbeyond]

Thanks for posting the draw, JBF#1!

Nadal got lucky not to have Davydenko in his draw.

This makes a finals appearance all the more necessary if he wants to meet a top player in action before the AO.

Beating Garcia-Lopez and Youzhny is not enough practice to defend his Australian Open title, IMO.

Anyways, this looks like a much easier draw than he had last year. Hopefully, he can take full advantage of that.

Looking forward to a Nadal-Federer final

Nadal-Fed...wouldn't that be great??? It's almost romantic...hah!!!

OK, shoot me...(genuine enthusiasm has its drawbacks)

 

[Dimitrov_Fan]

Going from rank 6 to 19 is a big gap. I wonder where everyone else will be.
Its also nice to see El Aynaoui received a Wildcard.

oh thats cool! El Aynaoui is a big star in doha so its going to be nice to see him play again!

im going to pick again Rafa like in abu dhabi to win doha tournament

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

jesus nadal has the easiest draw ive ever seen

 

[Blinkism]

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

• Monday 4/01/2010
  3pm 4 Matches
• Tuesday 5/01/2010
  3pm 4 Matches
• Wednesday 6/01/2010
  3pm 4 Matches
• Thursday 7/01/2010
  3pm 4 Matches
• Friday 8/01/2010
  4pm Singles Semi Finals and Doubles Final

FINAL MATCH & THROPHY CEREMONY

• Saturday 9/01/2010
  6:30 PM Singles Final

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

I may actually end up rooting for Nadal to make the final... I hate Youzhny so much...

 

[TennisFan3]

Well I don't want Nadal to win everything. Last yr he lost the exho and at the QF of Doha but won the AO. Murray who won lost early. Rafa shouldn't be mentally spent by AO time.

 

[Blinkism]

Well I don't want Nadal to win everything. Last yr he lost the exho and at the QF of Doha but won the AO. Murray who won lost early. Rafa shouldn't be mentally spent by AO time.

Well, first of all, Nadal looks really fresh and didn't seem tired in the Soderling match.

He only played and hour and a half in the final and a total of 4 sets in the tournament. Murray, however, played a 3 hour final last year and 8 sets in the tournament. So, the effort to win Abu Dhabi this year is half the effort it took Murray last year.

And, also, Nadal's draw to final in Doha is simple enough, relatively. I don't think he'll pushed too hard until the final, but then it's a week off until the first rounds in Melbourne.

I'm sure he'll be fine.

Playing Rotterdam after the AO would be a big mistake. Getting some matches under his belt before the AO, however, is smart idea, IMO.

 

[Buckethead]

if Nadal doesn't make to the final he can give up playing tennis,cause Karlovic,Davidenko,Gulbis are in Fed's draw so,there isn't anybody besides Youhzny.
This draw is ridiculous.

 

[TennisFan3]

Well, first of all, Nadal looks really fresh and didn't seem tired in the Soderling match.

He only played and hour and a half in the final and a total of 4 sets in the tournament. Murray, however, played a 3 hour final last year and 8 sets in the tournament. So, the effort to win Abu Dhabi this year is half the effort it took Murray last year.

And, also, Nadal's draw to final in Doha is simple enough, relatively. I don't think he'll pushed too hard until the final, but then it's a week off until the first rounds in Melbourne.

I'm sure he'll be fine.

Playing Rotterdam after the AO would be a big mistake. Getting some matches under his belt before the AO, however, is smart idea, IMO.

Good post. I really don't understand why he wants to play Rotterdam. It's hell on his knees, is a smallish tournament and it comes basically from nowhere juxtaposed b/w the AO and the American pre clay HC season. Rotterdam is where Rafa's problems started last yr. Richard Krajicek must be after Rafa again..

 

[GOATPARERA]

I can't think of a reason why Federer would want to play Rafael Nadal Parera!

 

[sheq]

Well, first of all, Nadal looks really fresh and didn't seem tired in the Soderling match.

He only played and hour and a half in the final and a total of 4 sets in the tournament. Murray, however, played a 3 hour final last year and 8 sets in the tournament. So, the effort to win Abu Dhabi this year is half the effort it took Murray last year.

And, also, Nadal's draw to final in Doha is simple enough, relatively. I don't think he'll pushed too hard until the final, but then it's a week off until the first rounds in Melbourne.

I'm sure he'll be fine.

Playing Rotterdam after the AO would be a big mistake. Getting some matches under his belt before the AO, however, is smart idea, IMO.

Good post, and definetely agree

 

[Bud]

Well, first of all, Nadal looks really fresh and didn't seem tired in the Soderling match.

He only played and hour and a half in the final and a total of 4 sets in the tournament. Murray, however, played a 3 hour final last year and 8 sets in the tournament. So, the effort to win Abu Dhabi this year is half the effort it took Murray last year.

And, also, Nadal's draw to final in Doha is simple enough, relatively. I don't think he'll pushed too hard until the final, but then it's a week off until the first rounds in Melbourne.

I'm sure he'll be fine.

Playing Rotterdam after the AO would be a big mistake. Getting some matches under his belt before the AO, however, is smart idea, IMO.

Nadal oughta axe Rotterdam, Madrid and Cincy from his schedule in 2010

 

[JankovicFan]

I thought Delpo was playing here? Wasn't he coming here at the last minute?

Also WTF is Rafa playing a 250 event? Didn't he learn from knee problems last yr?

Brisbane, Doha, and Sydney are the only chances to tune up on Plexicushion Prestige surfaces, most like the AO courts to follow. Getting used to playing in southern hemisphere summer heat would be another factor, I think.

 

[cucio]

I've heard that, too .... supposedly gives Delpo an easier draw as no. 4? :???:

Yup. The significant ranking borders are the powers of two: 2, 4, 8, 16, 32... Draw-wise, there's no appreciable difference between 1 and 2, other than bragging rights. Breaking any of those barriers makes your first rounds theoretically easier. Breaking top 8 gets you a bye at GS and MS. Players ranked near those spots should mind their points very carefully.

if Nadal doesn't make to the final he can give up playing tennis,cause Karlovic,Davidenko,Gulbis are in Fed's draw so,there isn't anybody besides Youhzny.
This draw is ridiculous.

Mmm, dunno, rankings are pretty fair, and Youhzny is ranked at the moment better than Ivo and Ernests, who have seen better days. And it is not like Fed will face both Davy and Ivo, since they are in the same quarter.

But yeah, Davy definitely tips the balance heavily at whatever side he lands, given the top 4 seeds are ranked 1, 2, 6 and 19. Rog definitely got the short straw here.

Nadal oughta axe Rotterdam, Madrid and Cincy from his schedule in 2010

No way a top player will refuse to participate in a Real Slam.

 

[joeri888]

Nadal or Davydenko will win. Federer won't I think... He'll be ready in like the second week of the AO.

Breaking top 8 gets you a bye at GS and MS. Players ranked near those spots should mind their points very carefully.

I seriously hope you are kidding and this is not some kind of new rule :|

 

[joeri888]

Brisbane, Doha, and Sydney are the only chances to tune up on Plexicushion Prestige surfaces, most like the AO courts to follow. Getting used to playing in southern hemisphere summer heat would be another factor, I think.

Nadal should learn to 'warmup' in first rounds. He should cut on his schedule. Federer has skipped Doha before, has skipped Halle before, skips Dubai basically every year, Rafa should do the same.

 

[cucio]

I seriously hope you are kidding and this is not some kind of new rule :|

To be honest, I don't know where did I pull this out from, although I have my suspicions and it doesn't smell good. My apologies for the mistake: no byes at GS.

 

[Outbeyond]

Nadal should learn to 'warmup' in first rounds. He should cut on his schedule. Federer has skipped Doha before, has skipped Halle before, skips Dubai basically every year, Rafa should do the same.

FYI, I read yesterday that Fed is playing Dubai this year. Currently, Nadal has no plans to do so.

 

[joeri888]

FYI, I read yesterday that Fed is playing Dubai this year. Currently, Nadal has no plans to do so.

yeah, well.. Federer will make sure he drops out if he's not 100% fit. I'm not sure whether Rafa will do so, and whether Rafa is also doing enough prevention. I'm fine with him playing Doha, but he should stop having grueling 5 match weeks in which he plays with so much energy. It wouldn't be bad to have 3 relaxed matches here and tank the fourth, or skip some tournaments like Rotterdam, and maybe Barcelona or Rome (or Miami)

 

[Blinkism]

Wow, I'm surprised so many more people think Nadal will win Doha than Federer.

Roger was in really great form in Abu Dhabi. It's tough to say who between him and Rafa are in better shape. Considering Roger is the better HC (overall), you'd have to put him down as the favorite on paper.

Then again, the chances of Fed not putting in the 100% effort are higher than Nadal not put in a 100% effort. So, I can see the rationale behind voting for Rafa. That's why I voted for him.

It wouldn't be bad to have 3 relaxed matches here and tank the fourth, or skip some tournaments like Rotterdam, and maybe Barcelona or Rome (or Miami)

I'm sure Nadal just packed his schedule as usual in case he needs to pick up points. If he's in form and can defend most of his points from this part of the season, I wouldn't be surprised to see him tank something like he did in Rome 2008....

edit- also, it looks like Nadal will be taking his defense of the doubles title in Doha a little more seriously than I thought he would. His partner, Marc Lopez, has withdrawn from the singles qualifying, despite bageling and breadsticking his first opponent.

Nadal/Lopez play Fyrstenberg/Matkowski first round. Good luck to the Spaniards!

 

[jazzyfunkybluesy]

Nadal,

I haven't seem him play that well since early last year.

What time will they start tomorrow?

 

[Fedace]

which TV channel is covering this event ?

 

[jazzyfunkybluesy]

I see Tennis Channel is covering from 8am EST to 10:30am.

I wonder if that livescorehunter link will be up tomorrow.

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

I see Tennis Channel is covering from 8am EST to 10:30am.

I wonder if that livescorehunter link will be up tomorrow.

No they rnt. They are showing last week's exo.

 

[jazzyfunkybluesy]

No they rnt. They are showing last week's exo.

Shoot. Well what good is that to show a week old tournament. How useless. Will the scorehunter link be up?

 

[Dimension]

Really good draw for Nadal. I am expecting a Nadal/Federer final.

 

[jazzyfunkybluesy]

Is the TennisTV.com worth 85 bucks a year?

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

Shoot. Well what good is that to show a week old tournament. How useless. Will the scorehunter link be up?

Tennis Channel is worthless when it comes to showing the smaller events outside of the majors. They show the masters, but that's about it. If only there was a real Tennis Channel that showed all of the events throughout the world every week, not on tape delay. Even Golf Channel has better coverage of the meaningless PGA Tour events. Still disappoints me about Tennis Channel.

If only Andre Agassi could take some of the money he invests in his school, and use it to get a real Tennis Channel going....that would really make the world a better place.

 

[Fedace]

I see Tennis Channel is covering from 8am EST to 10:30am.

I wonder if that livescorehunter link will be up tomorrow.

Nice so many tournaments in next couples of weeks.... so many choices....lol