LONDON: Doha, host of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, has joined St Petersburg, Indian Wells and Queen’s as the top four tournaments on the ATP Tour in 2015.
Doha and St Petersburgh are the two newcomers to the 250 series list,according to a list announced by the ATP in the 2015 ATP World Tour Awards presented by Moët and Chandon.
The Tournament of the Year awards, voted annually by ATP players, recognise the leading standards set across the three tournament categories on the Tour. Indian Wells repeats at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 level, while The Queen’s Club in London wins in its first year as a 500 tournament. In the 250 category, first-time winners Doha and St. Petersburg share honours.
ATP Executive Chairman and President Chris Kermode said: “Many congratulations to these four tournaments for setting the standard in their respective categories in 2015. They are each outstanding events in their own right, and this is a fitting recognition, as voted by the players, for all the hard work and dedication that goes into putting on these world class tournaments.”
For the first time since 2004 and the fourth time overall (since 1986), two events have been named joint winners in the ATP World Tour 250 category. The 24th edition of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open is now in progress, boasting a field that includes four Top 10 players: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Tomas Berdych and David Ferrer. The St Petersburg Open celebrated its 20th edition in 2015 as it returned to the ATP World Tour calendar.
“Our aim is always to make a great event where players can feel relaxed and at home, where they can perform at their best, where they want to return year after year,” Karim Alami, Tournament Director of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, said.
“We are always listening to the opinions and feedback from the organisation and from the players and trying to learn from our mistakes and past experiences to keep improving and to keep raising the bar every year.
“To achieve the recognition of the players for these efforts and be selected by them as the best ATP World Tour 250 tournament for the year 2015 makes us all very proud and gives us the strength and motivation to continue improving and making our event better and better,” Alami said.Agencies
