(MENAFN- Gulf Times) It's Novak Djokovic's second visit to Qatar ExxonMobil Open, and there is some unfinished business left for the World No. 1 in Doha.
At last year's event, the Serbian was knocked out in the quarter-finals itself, losing to big serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic. Since then, he has reached the final of every tournament he entered after January and ended 2015 with his fourth consecutive season-ending championship triumph, to add to three Grand Slams he won. The 28-year-old won 86 matches during the whole year and lost just six matches, with three of those coming against Roger Federer.
Coming into this year's Qatar Open, Djokovic has an extra inspiration to win the event, or maybe even prove a point. Djokovic's coach of two years Boris Becker won the first ATP Qatar Open, when it took place in January 1993. Now after 23 years, Djokovic wants to emulate his coach, with former World No. 1 Becker present courtside.
"I had a good performance in the first round here in Doha where it's a relatively new tournament for me. It's the second time I'm playing it in my life. It's a beautiful centre. People are nice - and the tournament has a long tradition and history. I think '92 (was in 93) was the first time it was being held, and I believe my coach won it. So we are hoping that I can repeat that success this year," said Djokovic, after he made a flying start to the season on Monday, winning his first round match against Dustin Brown comfortably.
My motivation is
singles: Nadal
The Olympic year is always a busy period for sportsmen, more so for tennis players, who also have to play week after week on the ATP Tour. The Olympics makes it even more taxing, as the 'fifth Grand Slam' takes place once in four years.
For the top names in the game, it's not just in singles competition that they take shot at gold, but they are in the mix in doubles and mixed competition as well.
Rafael Nadal seems to be already making his plans for Rio. The 14-time Grand Slam champion won a gold medal in singles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, before skipping the competition in London four years later due to health reasons.
Now the Spaniard has set his eyes on doubles glory. Nadal is no stranger to playing doubles at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open; he has won the title four times, including last year. While he said "Olympic year doesn't change nothing", indications are that Nadal will partner countryman Fernando Verdasco at the Olympics.
The duo lost in first round on Monday at the Khalifa Complex, but it looks like the partnership will go on till Rio.
Last year, Nadal failed to reach a Grand Slam semifinal in singles for the first time since 2004 and is ranked No. 5 in the world. He hasn't played a Grand Slam doubles match since 2005 but did play Olympic doubles in both of his appearances in Athens 2004 (with Carlos Moya) and Beijing 2008 (with Tommy Robredo), but never reached the quarter-finals. Tennis at Rio will be played on hard courts rather than Nadal's preferred clay surface.
When asked if doubles is one of his priorities in 2016, Nadal refused to give away anything. "No. My priorities is singles, 100%. I am going to do it my way, and my way is the singles. For sure, when I arrive at the Olympics, I will be ready to compete in as many competitions possible. If I can compete in mixed, in doubles, in singles, I am going to do it, but I am a singles player and I am not a doubles player. My motivation is the singles," Nadal said.
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