Grigor Dimitrov, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas pose for a photo with the Golden Falcon Trophy ahead of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Novak Djokovic will target his 100th ATP title going up against a tough line-up of stars as the Qatar ExxonMobil Open kicks off in Doha today.
The Serbian superstar will also aim to match the Swiss great Roger Federer by winning a third Qatar ExxonMobil Open crown – the most by any player in the 32-year history of the prestigious tournament, now elevated to ATP500 status.
Djokovic, seeded third this time in Doha, will begin his title hunt with a first-round clash against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex tomorrow. Before that, today, he will team up with Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the doubles Round of 16 to play against Alexander Bublik and Karen Khachanov.
However, to reach the singles final, Djokovic will have to tackle top seed Carlos Alcaraz in a possible semi-final clash in the star-studded draw this time.
Djokovic last met the high-flying Spaniard in the Australian Open quarter-finals last month beating the 21-year-old before retiring in the semi-final due to injury concerns.
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz during a pre-event photoshoot in Doha yesterday.
Despite missing a 25th Grand Slam title Down Under, Djokovic will start Doha campaign with a positive mindset.
“There is no more rupture in the muscle, the injury is almost 100% healed,” Djokovic, 37, said before arriving in Doha.
“I have the green light from the medical team to be able to train, to be able to prepare. The tournament in Doha is scheduled for a week now, so I am sticking to the schedule. Thank God, I managed to recover quickly,” Djokovic, who was yesterday seen with Alcaraz at a promotional event, said.
Unlike Djokovic, Alcaraz chases his second title of the year in Doha.
World No. 2 Alcaraz returns to Doha riding high after winning the Rotterdam final where he defeated Alex de Minaur a week ago.
Alcaraz is taking part in his maiden Tour-level event in Doha, but is no stranger to the venue.
“I played the qualifiers of Australian Open in Doha in 2021 because of the pandemic,” Alcaraz told ATP.
“For me, it’s totally different. I couldn’t go out of the hotel at that moment. There was no crowd, no people here, so it’s totally different. But four years on, I think I’m coming here feeling different, obviously, but I have great memories from here, from this last time.”
“I think Doha has had always really good tennis players at this tournament,” Alcaraz said.
“Great names, so I’m excited about playing my first time here in Doha, and let’s see. I’m still focusing on the things that I have to improve, just focus on myself, and hopefully show some great tennis here,” Alcaraz said, referring to the stacked draw which also includes other Top 10 stars Daniil Medvedev, Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev.
With World No.1 Jannik Sinner retiring due to a newly-imposed ban, Alcaraz was handed the top seed in the draw and he will take on former US Open champion Marin Cilic in his opening match today.
If Alcaraz advances, he could face Zhizhen Zhang, Grigor Dimitrov, or Jiri Lehecka on his way to the semi-finals.
Sinner on Saturday agreed to a three-month ban from tennis, with the world No.1 admitting ‘partial responsibility’ for testing positive for traces of clostebol in March last year.
Among other first-round match-ups today, Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell takes on Lebanese wildcard Hady Habib, while Jiri Lehecka of Czech Republic meets seventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. Australia’s Alexei Popyrin faces Briton Jack Draper in the remaining Round of 32 clash.
