ATP Doha - DRAW: Novak Djokovic to face Khachanov or Wawrinka in the semis
The 27th edition of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open will take place at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha next week and it will gather the world no. 1 and many other big names who will fight for the first title of the season. Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Jim Courier, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Nikolay Davydenko, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and Novak Djokovic have all won the title here in the past and Djokovic is the top favorite to become the first player since Roger Federer with three Doha titles. Novak will kick off the fourth Doha campaign against Damir Dzumhur before the second round clash against Marton Fucsovics or Marius Copil.
2018 finalist Andrey Rublev get the chance to play in the main draw when Mikhail Kukushkin was forced to withdraw and the Russian will face Andreas Seppi before an eventual clash against the 5th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili or Albert Ramos-Vinolas. In the best encounter of the first round, the 3rd seed Karen Khachanov takes upon Stan Wawrinka and the winner of that match should be the favorite for reaching the semis from the second quarter, with Robin Haase, Nicolas Jarry, Mubarak Shannan Zayid, Roberto Bautista Agut and Matteo Berrettini as the possible rivals in the next two tests.
David Goffin and Marco Cecchinato top the third quarter and the Belgian should reach the last four against the names like Dusan Lajovic, Adrian Mannarino, Guido Pella and Cem Ilkel, hoping for a much better season after scoring only 28 wins in 2018. Fernando Verdasco wasted numerous match points against Novak Djokovic in Doha two years ago and he will try to reach the semi-final again, facing Philipp Kohlschreiber or Tomas Berdych (first tournament since Queen's) in round two. The 2nd seed Dominic Thiem opens the campaign against Pierre-Hugues Herbert before, seeking a good result despite losing all three matches at Mubadala World Tennis Championship. Full draw:
[1]Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Damir Dzumhur (BIH) Marton Fucsovics (HUN) vs Marius Copil (ROU) Andrey Rublev (RUS) vs Andreas Seppi (ITA) [5]Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) vs Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP)
[3]Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs Stan Wawrinka (SUI) Robin Haase (NED) vs Nicolas Jarry (CHI) [WC]Mubarak Shannan Zayid (QAT) vs Qualifier / LL [7]Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) vs Matteo Berrettini (ITA)
[6]David Goffin (BEL) vs Qualifier / LL Dusan Lajovic (SRB) vs Adrian Mannarino (FRA) Guido Pella (ARG) vs [WC]Cem Ilkel (TUR) [4]Marco Cecchinato (ITA) vs Qualifier / LL
[8]Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs Qualifier / LL Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs [WC]Tomas Berdych (CZE) Peter Gojowczyk (GER) vs Qualifier / LL [2]Dominic Thiem (AUT) vs Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA)
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2RpTsNV
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