Top 5 Players to Look Out For in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2024

Roger Federer holds the record for the most singles titles won in the ATP Qatar Open. The Swiss star won in the 2005, 2006, and 2011 editions of the tournament. However, it can be argued that Rafael Nadal has more success in the competition, having won two singles titles and four doubles titles (most among players). Andy Murray, on the other hand, holds the most singles appearances in the competition with five, including the previous year’s edition.

Daniil Medvedev is slated to defend his ATP Qatar Open crown for this year’s edition. The Russian star managed to claim his first title in the competition after beating Andy Murray in two straight sets at 6-4 and 6-4. It wasn’t an easy push for Medvedev as he had to stave off the British star in consecutive sets. Considering that Murray had massive experience in the competition and the court itself, it is easy to say that Medvedev had to defeat the odds to push for his victory.

Daniil Medvedev enters as the favorite to win in the Qatar Open this year. As the defending champion, the expectations are high for the Russian star thanks to his relentless pursuit of success. It can be remembered that the world no. 3 fell short of winning the Australian Open back in January after he lost to Jannik Sinner in the final.

In that game, Medvedev had the upper hand to begin the contest, winning two sets in a row. However, his form faltered in the dying moments of the showdown as he lost three straight sets and failed to force deuces in those sets. On top of that, the star admitted that he got sloppy in those closing sets, leading to the tough loss. The Qatar Open is the perfect spot for Medvedev to redeem his confidence and get back on the winning track this year.

The 2024 ATP Tour hasn’t been quite a great start for Andy Murray so far, losing back in the last three tournaments he played in. He reached the First Round of the Australian Open back in January but lost to Tomas Martin Etcheverry in three straight sets. His campaign in the Open Sud De France and Open 13 saw him wrap up early in the Round of 32, which just says a lot about the pace he is going in.

Still, Murray is the runner-up for the previous edition of the Qatar Open, and it means that he is a favorite to win the game as well. This is why it is expected for Murray to still be the deadly player he is on the court, especially in a court where he has won twice. Now it is time for him to shine bright once more and deliver a promising performance to claim his third title in the competition.

Rublev fell short in the 2023 edition of the Qatar Open after losing to Jiri Lehecka in three sets. He managed to secure the first set, but then went on to lose the other two as he failed to put up a fight in the final moments. However, this year has seen him make some strides in the 2024 ATP Tour, starting with his quarter-final appearance in the Australian Open.

At the age of 26, Rublev has a promising chance to make a push in the Qatar Open. A win in the competition will see him finish with the second title in the ATP 250 event and will likely help him begin a climb in the ATP Rankings this year as well. Who knows, maybe a victory in the Qatar Open will help him set the tone for his upcoming games in the rest of the campaign.

World no. 70 Gael Monfils may be already in the twilight years of his career, but don’t underestimate the grit and grind of the French star. It can be remembered that Monfils already won the 2018 edition of the Qatar Open, and has managed to make his way to the Final four times since 2006. That says a lot about his prowess in the court and dominance in the tournament as a whole.

Monfils has already hinted at a plan to retire by the end of the 2024 campaign, depending on his health and fitness. This just means that the coming Qatar Open might also be his last shot at one of the toughest competitions he’s ever played in. However, he has to beat the odds against the younger stars who have dominated the tournament in the past few years. But then again, no one should ever underestimate the heart of a champion.

Perhaps the biggest shocker of the upcoming Qatar Open, Rafael Nadal is lobbying for a return to one of his favorite courts in Doha. The former world no. 1 was injured in the 2023 Australian Open and missed out on the whole 2023 ATP Tour to recover from surgery. Nadal went on to play in the Brisbane International, reaching the Quarter-final stage but losing to Jordan Thompson, 2-1. The Spanish star went on to miss the 2024 Australian Open to recover from a minor injury as well.

If all goes well according to plan, Nadal is expected to make his return to the tennis stage in the Qatar Open this month. And guess what, the star is also one of the top picks to win in the competition but by a long shot. This just means that fans should expect a great run from the Spanish Maestro once more, especially when he last won the tournament back in 2014 against Monfils and last reached the final back in 2016. This is a redemption arc for Nadal to begin his season with a huge win on one of the toughest courts to play in.