Doha: Novak Djokovic, a two-time singles champion at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, may face the rising Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, as revealed by the official draw on Saturday.
Both Alcaraz and Djokovic have been placed in the same half of the draw for this tournament, which has elevated its status from an ATP 250 to an ATP 500 event this year, underscoring Doha’s increasing prominence in the global tennis arena.
The gathering took place at the Media Center of the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) and was graced by the presence of several notable individuals, including QTF Secretary-General Tariq Zainal, Tournament Director Karim Alami, QTF Executive Director Saad Al Mohannadi, and Ahmad Batti, who serves as the Chairman of the Public Relations Committee. Additionally, Rashid Al Hajri, Vice-President of ExxonMobil Qatar and Manager of Government and Public Affairs, was in attendance. The players represented at the event included Marin Cilic, Hady Habib, and Aziz Dougaz, along with ATP Supervisor Cedric Mourier.
Meanwhile, World No. 3 Alcaraz, making his debut at this event as the top seed, is set to begin his campaign with a first-round match against Marin Cilic. Alcaraz holds a 3-1 advantage in their head-to-head encounters, with their most recent meeting resulting in a five-set victory for Alcaraz during the fourth round of the 2022 US Open.
On the other hand, Djokovic’s readiness following his recovery from a left leg muscle tear will be immediately tested in an opening match against Matteo Berrettini.
In the lower half of the draw, second seed Alex de Minaur seeks to quickly recover from his recent defeat to Alcaraz in the Rotterdam final, as he faces Roman Safiullin in his first match in Doha.
Fifth seed Andrey Rublev, a former champion in Doha, could potentially meet De Minaur in the quarter-finals.
Daniil Medvedev is also vying for an indoor title this week in Marseille, where he is scheduled to compete against Hamad Medjedovic in the semi-finals of the Open 13 Provence on Saturday.
Upon his arrival in Doha, the 28-year-old Medvedev will prepare for a clash with Karen Khachanov, marking a meeting between two past champions in Qatar: Medvedev claimed the title at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex in 2023, while Khachanov was victorious the previous year.
In a highly competitive draw, sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas could face the winner of the Medvedev vs. Khachanov match in the quarter-finals. Tsitsipas will begin his campaign against Medjedovic, with Felix Auger-Aliassime potentially awaiting the winner in the second round.
In a stacked draw, sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas is a potential quarter-final opponent for the winner of Medvedev vs. Khachanov.
The Greek opens against Medjedovic, with Felix Auger-Aliassime possibly awaiting the winner in the second round.
