Feliciano Lopez withdraws from Doha, set to be replaced by lucky loser
Spanish tennis veteran Feliciano Lopez won't be opening his 2019 campaign in the first week of the new season as he has withdrawn from the Qatar ExxonMobil Open.
Lopez, 37, will be replaced by a lucky loser in the Doha main draw.
The 37-year-old has played in Doha six times so far in his career.
The Spaniard debuted in Doha long ago in 2003 -- when he lost in the first round to Czech Radek Stepanek.
In his last appearance at the Doha event in January 2018, Lopez beat fellow compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the first round before he lost to Bosnian Mirza Basic in the round-of-16.
The 37-year-old's best-ever Doha campaign came in 2005 -- when he made the quarter-final before losing to record 20-time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer.
In his remaining three Doha appearances, Lopez made the round-of-16 in 2006 and picked up first-round losses at the tournament in 2013 and 2016.
Lopez, ranked at No. 64 in the world, may never again play in Doha as the 2019 season could be his last on the ATP Tour.
It remains to be seen will the former world No. 12 return to Doha before he retires.
Meanwhile, the Doha event is still due to feature a strong player field -- led by world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and 2018 French Open runner-up Dominic Thiem.
Also read: 2018 runner-up Andrey Rublev makes Doha main draw after player withdrawal
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2CE9ewj
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