Qatar ExxonMobil Open Tennis 2013 Starts Monday

Doha, December 29 (QNA) - Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2013 will start on Monday at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. The tournament will see the participation of international players who compete for $1.054 million in prize money. The organizing committee held today Saturday a press conference in the Four Seasons Hotel and announced that they made all the preparations necessary to start the tournament. Qatar ExxonMobil will be the ATP World Tour season ceremonial opener this year, as has been the case since 2009. Qatar Tennis Foundation (QTF) President Ghanim Al Khulaifi expressed the organizing committee's gratitude to HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and HH the Heir Apparent and Chairman of the Olympic Committee for their unlimited support to sports in Qatar, particularly tennis. The QTF Chairman said he was proud with the partnership the federation has with ExxonMobil, which extended for 21 years. He said that the partnership was one of the main reasons that enabled the foundation to hold the tennis tournament for the 21st time, something that increased the popularity of tennis in the State of Qatar, he said. World No. 5 David Ferrer, France's Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils will lead a star-studded field of 32 international players. (QNA)