(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Tennis fans in Doha will be able to see Serbian Novak Djokovic on court on more than one occasion as the world's best player has been granted a doubles wildcard into the Qatar ExxonMobil Open January 5 to 10.
Djokovic will team up with countryman, Filip Krajinovic in the doubles draw. It is somewhat of a rarity for the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion to take the court in doubles.
In 2014 Djokovic played doubles in just four tournaments so he could concentrate on his singles career. Two of those tournaments with 22-year-old Krajinovic. The pair made the quarterfinals of the Beijing ATP event and also played Indian Wells.
Djokovic has one career ATP doubles title to his credit having won the tournament at Queens in London in 2010.
Having Djokovic in the doubles draw as well as being top seed in the singles ahead of defending champion Rafael Nadal gives the crowd in Doha double the opportunity to see one of the greats of the game early on in the tournament.
"The QTF have no hesitation giving Novak Djokovic a wildcard entry into the doubles draw. He is a class player and obviously will draw the crowds wherever he goes. He may even play his doubles match on an outside court in the first couple of days of the tournament, which will be a thrill for the crowds to get up that close to see him play. Watching top singles players take to the court in doubles is always a great spectacle.
Rafael Nadal has won the doubles title in Doha three times, who knows if Novak and his partner, Filip Krajinovic can do the same," said Qatar ExxonMobil Open tournament director Karim Alami.
Krajinovic has a current ATP singles ranking of 101 and a doubles ranking over 1000 and is considered a good friend of Djokovic and is an improving player on the world circuit.
Top singles seeds for the tournament are Djokovic, defending champion and world No. 3 Nadal, Tomas Berdych at No. 7 in the world, Spaniard David Ferrer ranked No. 10, Ernests Gulbis No. 13, German Philipp Kohlschreiber 24th, former winner in Doha, Richard Gasquet ranked 26 and the super-tall Ivo Karlovic who tops the 7ft mark and is ranked 27th in the world.
The tournament is held at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex with tickets available from City Center, Landmark, Lagoona, Villaggio, on-site at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex and from www.qatartennis.org.
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