QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN – ATP MEDIA NOTES DAY 6 – SATURDAY 11 JANUARY 2020 Khalifa Tennis Complex | Doha, Qatar | 6-11 January 2020 ATP Tour Tournament Media ATPTour.com qatartennis.org Martin Dagahs: [email protected] (ATP PR) Twitter: @ATPTour @QatarTennis Redab Masoud: [email protected] (Press Officer) Facebook: @ATPTour @qatartennis TV & Radio: TennisTV.com FEDEX ATP HEAD 2 HEADS: SATURDAY CHAMPIONSHIP • This is the youngest final in the tournament's 28-year history between Corentin Moutet (20) and Andrey Rublev (22). If Moutet wins, he will become the second-youngest champion in Doha history behind Andy Murray (20) in 2008. If Rublev wins, he will become the third-youngest champion in Doha behind Murray, who won back-to-back titles in 2008-09. This is the youngest ATP Tour final since Atlanta last July: Alex de Minaur (20) d. Taylor Fritz (21). • Moutet is appearing in his first ATP Tour final and he is trying to become the sixth Frenchman to win the Doha title: 2018 - Gael Monfils 2013 - Richard Gasquet 2012 - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 2004 - Nicolas Escude 2000 - Fabrice Santoro • Moutet is the third qualifier to reach the Doha final, the first since Bohdan Ulihrach in 2001 (l. to Rios). The only qualifier to win the title was Rainer Schuettler in 1999 (d. Henman). He was also the last first-time ATP Tour champion in Doha. There were 15 first-time ATP Tour champions last year, the most since 1999 when there were 16. • Rublev is making his fifth career ATP Tour final appearance (2-2), his second in three years in Doha. In 2018 he lost to Monfils in the final. Rublev is trying to become the second Russian champion in Doha behind Nikolay Davydenko, who captured the 2010 title (d. Nadal). He also was a finalist in 2011 and 2013. [Q] Corentin Moutet (FRA) vs [2] Andrey Rublev (RUS) First Meeting Moutet 2019 Summary | Age: 20 | World No. 81 | 5-10 in 2019 | 4-0 at Doha (2020 Finalist) • #NextGenATP Frenchman is appearing in his first ATP Tour final and 12-2 in sets this week in six matches. • No. 1 this week in service games won (49 of 53, 92%), 1st serve pct. (76%) and No. 2 in break pts. saved (13 of 17, 76%). Has broken opponents 13% this week (7 of 53 games), converting 7 of 23 break points (30%). • The left-hander is projected to move from No. 81 to a career-high No. 71 in the FedEx ATP Rankings and to around No. 57 if he wins the title. His win over No. 15-ranked Wawrinka on Friday was the biggest of his career. • His previous biggest win came over No. 23 Pella to reach 1st Grand Slam 3R at Roland Garros as WC (l to Londero) • Qualified and rallied from 2 sets down to defeat Dimitrov in Wimbledon 1R (l. to Auger-Aliassime in 2R). • Broke into Top 100 of ATP Rankings on 17 June and his best ranking last year was No. 80 on 22 July. • Snapped 6-match tour-level losing streak at ATP Masters 1000 Paris as LL (d. Lajovic, l. to No. 1 Djokovic in 2R). • Saved 2 MPs vs. Opelka in Lyon 1R as WC (l. to Bautista Agut in 2R). Qualified at Dubai (l. to Hurkacz in 1R). • Captured ATP Challenger Tour titles at Chennai, IND (d. A. Harris) and Lyon, FRA (d. E. Ymer). • Also advanced to Samarkand, UZB Challenger final (l. to Menezes). Rublev 2019 Summary | Age: 22 | World No. 23 | 38-19 in 2019 (Moscow Champion) | 8-2 at Doha (‘18, ‘20 Finalist) • Appearing in fifth ATP Tour final (2-2) and last title came on home soil in Moscow last October (d. Mannarino). • No. 1 this week in 1st serve pts. won (81%), and return games won (12 of 27, 44%) and No. 2 in service games won (24 of 26, 92%), saving 6 of 8 break pts. (75%). • No. 3 Russian is projected to move from No. 23 to a career-high No. 20 in the FedEx ATP Rankings on Monday (No. 19 if he wins the title). • Won title on 22nd birthday in hometown of Moscow (d. Mannarino). Reached Hamburg final (l. to Basilashvili). • Earned career-high 38 wins and achieved career-high No. 22 in ATP Rankings on 21 October -- joining Khachanov and Medvedev as 1st Russian trio in Top 25 since Andreev, Davydenko and Tursunov on 13 July 2009. • Posted biggest career win over No. 3 Federer in 62 minutes to reach 1st ATP Masters 1000 QF at Cincinnati as Q (l. to eventual champion Medvedev). Quickest loss by Federer since 2003 Sydney 1R (l. to Squillari in 54 minutes). • Also qualified at ATP Masters 1000 events in Miami (l. to Shapovalov in 3R) and Monte-Carlo (l. to eventual champion Fognini in 1R). Reached 3R at Indian Wells as LL (l. to Khachanov) and Shanghai (l. to A. Zverev). • Defeated fellow former World No. 1 juniors Tsitsipas and Kyrgios en route to US Open 4R (l. to Berrettini). • Advanced to 2nd ATP Masters 1000 doubles final at Paris w/Khachanov (l. to Herbert/Mahut). For the latest stats, facts and figures about the ATP Tour, follow @ATPMediaInfo on Twitter. QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN – ATP MEDIA NOTES DAY 5 – FRIDAY 10 JANUARY 2020 Khalifa Tennis Complex | Doha, Qatar | 6-11 January 2020 ATP Tour Tournament Media ATPTour.com qatartennis.org Martin Dagahs: [email protected] (ATP PR) Twitter: @ATPTour @QatarTennis Redab Masoud: [email protected] (Press Officer) Facebook: @ATPTour @qatartennis TV & Radio: TennisTV.com FEDEX ATP HEAD 2 HEADS: FRIDAY QF & SF SINGLES MATCHES CENTER COURT QF: [Q] Corentin Moutet (FRA) vs Fernando Verdasco (ESP) First Meeting Moutet 2019 Summary | Age: 20 | World No. 81 | 5-10 in 2019 | 2-0 at Doha (2020 QF) • #NextGenATP Frenchman is appearing in his second ATP Tour QF (2018 Quito). Qualified and 8-0 in sets so far. • Beat No. 23 Pella for biggest career win and to reach 1st Grand Slam 3R at Roland Garros as WC (l. to Londero). • Qualified and rallied from 2 sets down to defeat Dimitrov in Wimbledon 1R (l. to Auger-Aliassime in 2R). • Broke into Top 100 of ATP Rankings on 17 June and achieved career-high No. 80 on 22 July. • Snapped 6-match tour-level losing streak at ATP Masters 1000 Paris as LL (d. Lajovic, l. to No. 1 Djokovic in 2R). • Saved 2 MPs vs. Opelka in Lyon 1R as WC (l. to Bautista Agut in 2R). Qualified at Dubai (l. to Hurkacz in 1R). • Captured ATP Challenger Tour titles at Chennai, IND (d. A. Harris) and Lyon, FRA (d. E. Ymer). • Also advanced to Samarkand, UZB Challenger final (l. to Menezes). Verdasco 2019 Summary | Age: 36 | World No. 49 | 26-27 in 2019 (4 QFs) | 11-7 at Doha (2017 SF) • Last season reached four quarter-finals (0-4) and trying to reach first SF since October 2018 in Vienna (l. to Anderson). Appearing in his second QF in Doha (2017 SF). In six other appearances lost in 2R. • Earned 20+ wins in 16 straight seasons (2004-19). Tied with Nadal for 2nd-longest active streak (Federer 20). • Reached QFs at Sofia (l. to Berrettini), ATP Masters 1000 Rome (l. to Nadal), Eastbourne (l. to Querrey) and Kitzbuhel (l. to Sonego). Played 6 sets in 4 hrs, 54 mins on 16 May at Rome (d. Thiem in 2R and Khachanov in 3R). • Earned 6th career win from 2 sets down in Wimbledon 2R (d. Edmund, l. to Goffin in 4R). • Suffered 5th loss from 2 sets up in Australian Open 3R (l. to Cilic after holding 2 MPs) and 6th loss from 2 sets up in US Open 2R (l. to Chung after holding 1 MP). • Has played at 66 straight Grand Slams -- 2nd-longest streak of all-time behind Lopez’ active streak of 71. • Saved 3 MPs vs. Gerasimov in Marseille 1R (l. to Bachinger in 2R). QF: [1] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs Aljaz Bedene (SLO) Wawrinka Leads 3-1 13 Chennai (India) Hard QF Aljaz Bedene 6-2 7-6(6) 14 Chennai (India) Hard QF Stan Wawrinka 6-2 6-1 15 Chennai (India) Hard F Stan Wawrinka 6-3 6-4 18 St. Petersburg (Russia) Hard R32 Stan Wawrinka 7-5 7-6(5) Wawrinka 2019 Summary | Age: 34 | World No. 15 | 33-19 in 2019 (Rotterdam & Antwerp Finals) | 7-5 at Doha (2008 Final) • Last year reached quarter-finals or better in eight tournaments. Appearing in third QF in Doha (2008 final, 2019 QF). • Advanced to finals at Rotterdam (d. Nishikori, l. to Monfils) and Antwerp (l. to Murray). • Upset Djokovic in US Open 4R for 5th win in last 6 Grand Slam meetings vs. World No. 1 (l. to Medvedev in QF). • Owns 5-4 record vs. World No. 1 at Grand Slams and 0-17 elsewhere. • Reached Roland Garros QF-or-better for 5th time (d. Tsitsipas 8-6 in 5th after 5 hrs and 9 mins, l. to Federer in QF). • Defeated fellow former World No. 3 Dimitrov in 3 TBs for 500th career win in Roland Garros 3R. • Also defeated Dimitrov in Montreal 1R (l. to Khachanov in 2R) and Cincinnati 1R (l. to Rublev in 2R). • Withdrew from Stuttgart (fatigue), St. Petersburg (foot), Tokyo (foot) and ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai (foot). • Conceded walkover to Federer in Basel QF due to lower back injury. Bedene 2019 Summary | Age: 30 | World No. 58 | 33-19 in 2019 (Metz Final) | 3-1 at Doha (2020 QF) • Last season reached quarter-finals or better in five tournaments and went 2-3 in QF matches.