ATP Doha: tough competition for Dominic Thiem and Roger Federer
Dominic Thiem andRoger Federer will be the top two players at the ATP 250 tournament in Doha. However, great competition awaits in the capital of Qatar.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Mar 05, 2021, 01:06 pm
After more than 13 months, the time has come: Roger Federer will finally compete in a professional tennis match again. After two knee operations last year, the Swiss will return to the ATP tour at the ATP 250 tournament in Doha and try to get in top form for the second half of the season.
Because first and foremost, it will be about match practice for Federer in Doha. Finally, with Wimbledon, the Olympic Games and the US Open, the 39-year-old's declared goals for the season await later in the year. Corresponding empirical values against top players early in the current season should not be entirely wrong for the fifth in the world rankings.
Massu accompanies Thiem
Dominic Thiem, on the other hand, should go into the event with slightly different expectations. After a slow start to the season with the round of 16 at the Australian Open, only winning the tournament counts for the Austrian in Doha. The 27-year-old will receive support from Nicolas Massu, who was still missing Down Under due to a positive Corona case.
Thiem has never made it past the semifinals in Doha in three appearances so far. The Lichtenwörther had to admit defeat twice in round one, in 2018 he was unable to compete in his semi-final duel with Gael Monfils due to a cold. The Frenchman will also be in the capital of Qatar this year, but given his serious form weakness he is not one of the tournament favorites.
Rublev as the first challenger
Andrey Rublev, on the other hand, is much more likely to be. The world number eight from Russia has been in impressive shape for some time and should be the number one competitor for Thiem and Federer. But even the number four of the tournament, Denis Shapovalov, is a dangerous opponent for any player on a good day.
The seeding list for the top eight players is completed by Gael Monfils, Roberto Bautista Agut, David Goffin and Stan Wawrinka. Nick Kyrgios, who announced after the Australian Open that he would be able to do without the daily routine of the tour, will not be there .