Tournament Preview: Doha 31 December 2005 - 8 January 2006

EXXONMOBIL OPEN 2006

Throughout the ATP season, the Middle East plays host to two glamourous events, the first of which is played during the 
first week of the year in Doha, Qatar (the other being Dubai in February). The tournament never ceases to attract the big 
names and this year is no exception. Last year's winner and world number 1, Roger Federer, heads the list as he attempts to 
defend his title. Russian world number 5, Nikolay Davydenko, who had a stellar 2005 including appearances at the Roland 
Garros semifinals and the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, will also be heading to Doha and will be joined by man other 
high-profile players: French teen Richard Gasquet, who reached the top 20 for the first time in his career in 2005 will be 
hoping to shake off the injury woes that plagued him at the end of last season and start afresh in 2006l; fellow Frenchman 
and world number 26, Sebastien Grosjean; Igor Andreev of Russia who won 3 titles in 2005; Gaël Monfils, another up and 
coming French star; "glamourous" Spaniard, Feliciano Lopez; British veteran, Tim Henman; German star, Tommy Haas and 
promising Cypriot, Marcos Baghdatis, to name just a few. The first wildcard has already been given to Morocco's Younes El 
Aynaoui, an ATP veteran, once ranked in the top 20, who has unfortunately suffered many injuries of late, sidelining him 
for a very long time. Still very popular on the circuit, El Aynaoui will be hoping to continue his gradual comeback in the 
Middle East in 2006. 

Whenever there is "Federer" at the top of an entry list, it is almost always assumed he will be the favourite for the 
tournament, given his amazing performances throughout the last 2 years where he has effectively dominated men's tennis. 
However, at the beginning of a season, anything can happen and there are plenty of other stars here that will be hot on 
the Swiss master's heels, ready to challenge him and break his dominance in 2006. Davydenko, for one, will be a tough 
competitor, as will a fit Gasquet, who was one of a handful of players to defeat Federer in 2005. 

The qualifying event starts on Saturday 31 December 2005 and main draw action commences on Monday 2 January 2006. The 
tournament takes place at the Khalifa Tennis Complex, a landmark in the State of Qatar since 1992, whose centre court 
accommodates 4500 spectators. The official hotel is the Four Seasons Hotel Doha. Tickets can be purchased through the Qatar 
Tennis Federation by phoning 4854056 or 4854017. Qatar is a land of glitzy new hotels, towering sand dunes, ancient rock 
carvings and distinctive architecture...for more information on Qatar and Doha, visit the World Travel Guide 
(http://www.worldtravelguide.net/data/qat/qat.asp) and get set to usher in the new year in style at the ExxonMobil Open!

Tournament Fast Facts:
Venue: Khalifa Tennis Complex, Doha, Qatar
Dates: 31 December 2005 - 8 January 2006
Singles Qualifying: 32 draw 
Main Draw Singles: 32 
Main Draw Doubles: 16 
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Prize money: US $975 000
Tournament Director: Ayman Azmy

Main Draw Entry List:
Federer, Roger SUI  
Davydenko, Nikolay RUS 
Gasquet, Richard FRA 
Grosjean, Sebastien FRA  
Andreev, Igor RUS  
Rochus, Olivier BEL  
Monfils, Gael FRA 
Lopez, Feliciano ESP 
Mirnyi, Max BLR 
Hanescu, Victor ROM  
Henman, Tim GBR  
Rusedski, Greg GBR 
Volandri, Filippo ITA 
Sanguinetti, Davide ITA 
Youzhny, Mikhail RUS 
Haas, Tommy GER 
Rochus, Christophe BEL 
Wawrinka, Stanislas SUI  
Baghdatis, Marcos CYP  
Santoro, Fabrice FRA  
Zib, Tomas CZE 
Tursunov, Dmitry RUS 
Vik, Robin CZE 
Moodie, Wesley RSA 
Bjorkman, Jonas SWE  
(WC) El Aynaoui, Younes 
(WC) 
(WC) 
(Q) 
(Q) 
(Q) 
(Q) 

Alternates:
Pavel, Andrei ROM 
Minar, Ivo CZE 
Bracciali, Daniele ITA 
Montanes, Albert ESP 
Monaco, Juan ARG 
Berlocq, Carlos ARG 
Starace, Potito ITA 
Lisnard, Jean-Rene FRA 
Almagro, Nicolas ESP 
Gimelstob, Justin USA 
Ramirez Hidalgo, Ruben ESP 
Costa, Albert ESP
Mazarakis, Vasilis GRE 
Portas, Albert ESP  
Greul, Simon GER