2018 runner-up Andrey Rublev makes Doha main draw after player withdrawal
A place in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open main draw has opened for 2018 runner-up Andrey Rublev following a player withdrawal.
World No. 53 Mikhail Kukushkin won't be opening his 2019 campaign in Doha as he withdrew from the tournament.
Kazakhstan's Kukushkin hasn't played in Doha since 2011.
The 31-year-old debuted at the Doha event in 2010 after winning three qualifying matches to clinch a place in the main draw.
However, Kukushkin failed to win the main draw in both of his previous two Doha appearances as he was beaten by Nikolay Davydenko in the 2010 first round and Guillermo Garcia Lopez in the 2011 first round respectively.
Meanwhile, Rublev didn't make the Doha main draw cut after falling to No. 68 in the world.
The Russian debuted at the Doha event this past season.
The 21-year-old fell just short of having a dream Doha debut as he was beaten by French Gael Monfils in the final.
Rublev's 2018 Doha campaign also included wins over Cedric-Marcel Stebe, the former world No. 7 Fernando Verdasco, fellow rising star Borna Coric and Argentina's Guido Pella.
Rublev will have a hard time reaching the Doha in back-to-back years as world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, 2018 French Open runner-up Dominic Thiem and 2018 Paris Masters champion Karen Khachanov are all expected to play at the tournament.
The Doha event is due to take place from December 31 - January 05.
Also read: Novak Djokovic hungry for more success after outstanding 2018 campaign
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2Q50XoV
No comments