DOHA, February 25, 2020 (Press Release)
Greek tennis star Maria Sakkari and her Estonian counterpart Anett Kontaveit visited the iconic National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) on Sunday.
The stars, who are featuring at the Qatar Total Open 2020, were taken on a private tour of the museum where they learnt about Qatar’s history, its animals and heritage among others.
Sakkari, ranked 20th, won her first WTA title at the 2019 Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Rabat, defeating Johanna Konta in the final. The 24-year-old, who was was introduced to tennis at age 6, was born in Athens in 1995 to former top 50 tennis player Angelikí Kanellopoúlou and Konstantinos Sakkaris.
WTA players Maria Sakkari and Anett Kontaveit had a chance to experience one of the many Qatar’s treasures – Qatar National Museum 💎 @NMOQatar @wta #wta #qatartennis #qto2020 pic.twitter.com/Shkj5BdcYW
— Qatar Tennis Federation (@QatarTennis) February 25, 2020
“I’m happy to take a tour of this iconic museum and I’m delighted to learn so much about Qatar and its history. The tour has been an eye opener and it has been a wonderful experience for me. It has doubtlessly added greatly to my understanding of the country,” Sakkari said of the visit.
Giving voice to the nation’s rich heritage and culture and expressing the aspirations of its people, NMoQ serves as a hub for discovery, creativity, and community engagement, providing diverse educational opportunities for Qatar and advancing the nation’s cultural vision on the global stage.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani (1880-1957), son of the founder of modern Qatar. The permanent gallery route culminates in the very heart of Qatari national identity, the restored Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani.
Speaking about her experience, Kontaveit said, “It is nice to visit historic spots during a tournament like the Qatar Total Open. I’m fascinated by what I witnessed and the amazing things on display. It’s good to know more about Qatar’s history and I appreciate the organisers for arranging it.”
The Qatar Total Open 2020 continues until February 29 at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha.
