DOHA, February 19, 2021 (QTF Press Release)
As parts of the measures taken to ensure all participants’ health and safety, the draw ceremony of the Qatar Total Open 2021 will be held virtually on February 27th.
The media and all interested tennis lovers can log in to follow the draw ceremony proceedings from the venue via the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) Facebook account.
The entry list of the $565,530 total prize purse tournament is out and it featured many superstars including eight of the World’s top-ten players after the withdrawal of US-American World No. 4 Sofia Kenin due to illness.
The list is led by World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty of Australia, World No. 2 Simona Halep of Romania, 2014 champion and 2019 Wimbledon Open semi-finalist, World No. 5 Elina Svitolina from the Ukraine.
Others on the cards for the 19th edition of the annual tournament are 2017 champion Karolina Pliskova, 2020 champion Aryna Sabalenka, 2018 champion Petra Kvitova, 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu and Kiki Bertens, semi-finalist at the 2016 French Open.
The list also includes three Grand Slam titles winner and 2014 finalist Angelique Kerber of Germany, Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, 2018 finalist Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain, US-American Madison Keys, Poland’s Iga Swiatek and Jennifer Brady from the United States among others.
In all, a total of 32 players, including four qualifiers, are expected to feature in the singles event while 16 teams will slug it out in the doubles.
Tariq Zainal, QTF Secretary-General, said, “It is my pleasure to welcome everyone to Doha once again for another edition of the prestigious Qatar Total Open. As much as we would have loved to have a glittering draw ceremony as our usual tradition is, we are, however, constrained by the current global situation to restrict the ceremony to a virtual event in adherence to the necessary safety and health protocols. Nonetheless, the event remains unique as usual, and we look forward to our media friends, partners, and all lovers of tennis following the proceedings live on our channel on the day.”
The WTA Tour event, held since 2001, has grown to become one of the signature events on the WTA Tour calendar and a most sought-after tournament in the region.
Since inception, only three players Anastasia Myskina (2003 and 2004), Maria Sharapova (2005 and 2008) and Victoria Azarenka (2012 and 2013) have been able to win the golden falcon trophy on more than one occasion.
Last year, Aryna Sabalenka defeated former champion Petra Kvitova in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 to clinch her maiden title in Doha.
Tournament Director Saad Al Mohannadi said, “The health and safety of all participants are our top priorities at the Qatar Total Open, and we are not leaving any stone unturned in ensuring that. This year’s draw ceremony is different from the previous for obvious reasons, but the glamour and glitz associated with it remain the same despite that. We look forward to welcoming the stars at the event.”
The Qatar Total Open has always garnered massive coverage in the broadcast, prints and online media through the works of the over 90 accredited local and international media personnel who covered it.
In 2020, the event was broadcasted to a TV audience in excess of 250 million in over 115 countries across all the continents of the World.
