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World number one Rafael Nadal will be the star attraction at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open when the 2014 ATP World Tour season begins in the last week of December this year with three tournaments in Brisbane, Chennai and Doha.
The Brisbane International will begin on December 29, while the Chennai Open and the Doha event will be played from December 30. It will be the 22nd edition of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.
Nadal is returning to Doha after a 2013 season that saw him win 10 titles, including an eighth French Open and a second US Open. This is Nadal’s sixth appearance in the Qatari capital with his best result being a finals appearance in 2010.
Spain’s David Ferrer, the world No. 3, has also confirmed for Doha. He had an outstanding 2013 season winning two titles (Buenos Aires and Auckland) and reached seven other finals, including at ATP Masters 1000 events in Paris and Miami.
World No. 4, Andy Murray, of Great Britain makes a return to Doha where he is a two-time champion, having won in 2008 and 2009. Since then, he has won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, the 2012 US Open title and 2013 Wimbledon, becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
Tomas Berdych, world No. 7, from Czech Republic, is making his Doha debut at this year’s event. The winner of eight career titles, he reached three finals in 2013 – Bangkok, Dubai and Marseille.
Defending champion and world No. 9, Richard Gasquet of France, returns to see if he can win another Doha title. In 2013, after his victory in Qatar, Gasquet went on to win two more titles in Montpellier and Moscow.
Frenchman Gael Monfils is making his seventh appearance in Doha. He has reached the final twice, losing to countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2012 and Switzerland’s Roger Federer 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.
“Nadal returns to Doha as world No. 1. Andy Murray looks to tie Federer’s record of three Doha titles and Richard Gasquet is looking to defend his title from last year. David Ferrer is one of the toughest competitors out there and Thomas Berdych is coming to Doha for the first time. Gael Monfils is always a fan favourite.
The rest of the field also includes well-known names, like fan favourite Fernando Verdasco and Doha regulars Nikolay Davydenko and Philipp Kohlschreiber, along with the tallest player on the ATP World Tour, Ivo Karlovic.