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Qatar is a country in the Middle East that is proud to host the Qatar Total Open (WTA) and the Qatar ExxonMobil Open (ATP) tennis tournaments each year.
Taking a trip there to see these popular tennis tournaments is an excellent idea if you have never been to this part of the world before, as it is an exotic and beautiful country.
Here is the ultimate guide for tennis fans on everything you need to know about the Qatar Open tennis tournament, also referred to as Doha (the name of the host city).
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Table of Contents
About the Qatar Open Tennis Tournament
How to Get Tickets to the Qatar Open Tournament
Where to Stay in Doha for the Qatar Open
Getting Around Doha
How to Make Your Qatar Open Experience Great
How to Watch the Qatar Open Tournament On TV
The Qatar Open is a tennis tournament that has been in existence since 1993 for the men’s ATP World Tour 250 series and the women’s WTA Tier-1 tournament since 2001. As of 2021, it is a WTA 500 tournament for the women’s tour.
This guide has information on both the men’s and women’s Qatar Open tournaments.
The tournament is located in the city of Doha, Qatar at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
The Qatar Open is usually held each year in January for the men and February for the women. The dates for 2021 were shifted forward due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current champions of the Qatar Open for 2021 are the following players:
The court surface at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex is a hard outdoor surface.
The prize money for the 2021 Qatar Total Open for the women’s WTA was $565,530 USD, which was a 33.5% drop from 2020.
The prize money for the 2021 Qatar ExxonMobil Open on the men’s side was $1 million dollars USD, which was a 20.71% drop from 2020.
Here are the ranking points from the 2021 Qatar Open.
| WTA Women’s Singles & Doubles | ATP Men’s Singles & Doubles | |
| Champion | 470 | 250 |
| Finalist | 305 | 150 |
| Semi-Finalists | 185 | 90 |
| Quarterfinals | 100 | 45 |
| Rd. of 16 | 55 singles | 1 doubles | 20 singles | 0 doubles |
The best way to get tickets to the Qatar Open is through their official website. The Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex has a main stadium with a capacity of 7,000 people.
There are 24 total courts at the complex. You can buy seats in the corporate box sections, the upper, middle, and lower sections close to all the action.
Doha is a modern and lovely city with many modern hotel options. You won’t have trouble finding a great room to stay in during the tennis tournament.
For high-end options around a mile and a half away from the venue, consider:
Both are five-star choices with great amenities. The Sheraton is even located on its own private beach.
For budget-friendly options, consider:
Both of these are one mile away from the tennis complex.
Airbnb is also an option in Doha. There are many high-rise condo apartments that people will rent out exclusively for this vacation rental service.
There is a public bus system in Doha, but it’s best to just take a taxi or Uber to the tennis tournament. That’s the easiest way to get around the city and from your hotel to the venue.
The Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex is a large facility with expansive spaces to walk around. There is a VIP tent you can have access to by paying extra. You can also eat at the many food court areas around the complex.
With 24 courts on the property, you’ll also be able to catch a ton of tennis including some of the biggest tennis stars in the world.
Make sure you arrive early enough to be on time for the matches. The matches typically begin at 2:00 p.m. Traffic in Doha during peak hours can get a little intense, so it’s better to allow plenty of time to arrive at the complex.
Since you’ll be outside for the matches at the main stadium, you may want to wear sunscreen and a hat. The weather there will be spring-like with an average temperature of 73 degrees Fahrenheit during January and February. Bringing a light sweater or jacket might also be a good idea.
The design and architecture of the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex is like no other in the world. It’s interesting and modern, with many people walking around to admire the venue in a world-class setting.
You’ll find plenty of food, drink, and shopping options that make for a great break from the tennis matches.
In the US, you can watch the action of the Qatar Open on the Tennis Channel. They also have an app that you can download and use to stream the event if you don’t have cable.
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Will Boucek is the Founder & CEO of The Tennis Tribe. He has played tennis for over two decades, including in college. Will has worked with ATP & WTA tour players and coaches. He currently lives in Austin TX where he plays USTA leagues & tournaments, writes about tennis, and teaches doubles workshops.