02.12.2008
Doha, 25 February 2008 – The Chairman of Doha 2016, Hassan Ali Bin Ali, paid tribute to the Qatar Total Open winner Maria Sharapova as well as the other stars of the WTA tour for creating “a truly memorable tournament”.
In the finals last Sunday, Sharapova beat Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 2-6, 6-0, so remaining unbeaten this season and earning her 18th career title. The tournament prize of US$414,000 is the largest on the WTA Tour apart from the Grand Slams.
Mr Hassan also congratulated the Qatar Tennis Federation for organizing “such a wonderfully successful event – a true spectacle and a pleasure to watch”.
Earlier, at a QTA press conference, Mr Hassan acknowledged a historic moment for the tournament, saying: “Everyone involved in the Qatar Total Open is truly delighted that Shahar Peer, the rising Israeli tennis star, has come to compete here in Doha this week – and reached the quarter finals. She is one of the bright new prospects on the WTA circuit and we very much hope to see her competing in Qatar again soon.”
The Doha 2016 Bid recently submitted its Applicant File, which outlines the plans for the Games. The document reveals the Qatar Olympic Committee’s latest plans for the Khalifa Tennis Centre, which includes the creation of a new 12,000-seat Centre Court. The existing stadium will then serve as Court 1 for the 2016 Games. In addition, a temporary 3,000-seat Court 2 facility is proposed.
The costs of all the venue developments outlined in the Doha 2016 Applicant File – the vast majority of which will be undertaken irrespective of whether Qatar is awarded the honour of hosting the Games – will be fully met by the government of Qatar.
Finally Mr Hassan congratulated Sheikh Mohammed Bin Faleh al-Thani, President of the Qatar Tennis Federation, on his recent appointment as the first chairman of the new Asian Tennis Tour.
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