Nadal to lead Qatar ExxonMobil Open line-up

TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA THREE top 10 players, led by No 4 Rafael Nadal, will feature in a strong field, assembling for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2013 beginning on December 31 at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash complex.

For the 21st consecutive year, Doha will be the starting point for 32 players on the ATP World Tour as they begin the new season.

Nadal is returning to the courts for the first time since a knee injury sidelined him during Wimbledon 2012 – a few weeks after he won his record-breaking seventh Roland Garros title. This is Nadal’s sixth appearance in the Qatari capital with his best result being a finals appearance in 2010. Last year, he reached the semifinals where he lost to Gael Monfils.

Spain’s David Ferrer, the world No. 5, had an amazing season in 2012. The winner of seven titles (Auckland, New Zealand; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Acapulco, Mexico; s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands; Bastad, Sweden; Valencia, Spain and the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Paris), he was also a semi-finalist at Roland Garros and the US Open.

Frenchmen Richard Gasquet, the No 10, returns to Doha after a seven-year absence and Monfils will be making his sixth appearance in Doha.

Monfils has reached the final twice, losing to countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga last year and to Switzerland’s Roger Federer in 2006.

Gasquet recently won the title at the PTT Thailand Open. Gasquet returns to Doha after a seven-year absence. His only previous appearance was in 2006.

Tournament Director Karim Alami spoke of this year’s field, “We are honoured to have another year with players of the highest caliber coming to the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. The week in Doha kicks off the ATP World Tour season and these players are looking to hit the courts fresh from their end of season break.

“Rafael Nadal is returning to competitive tennis since his knee injury at Wimbledon so everyone is looking forward to seeing what he brings. David Ferrer has had an amazing year with the number of titles he has had and winning his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Paris. Gael Monfils is always a fan favourite and it is wonderful to have Richard Gasquet return to the event after a long absence,” added Alami.

The rest of the field is a who’s who of well known names, like popular Feliciano Lopez and Doha regulars Nikolay Davydenko, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Mikhail Youzhny, along with rising stars Jeremy Chardy, Lukas Rosol and Lukas Lacko.

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