Novak Djokovic’s quest for a third Qatar Open title has been dealt a challenging hand, with the draw placing him against former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in the first round.
The tournament, which begins on Monday, also sees other high-profile matchups, including a potential clash between Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz later in the tournament.
Meanwhile, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner has been handed a three-month ban for a doping violation, forcing his withdrawal from the event.
Djokovic, returning to Doha for the first time since 2018, faces a stern test in his opening match against Berrettini.
The two have a history, having met in the 2021 Wimbledon final, where Berrettini won the first set before Djokovic rallied to win the next three and claim the championship.
Djokovic also holds victories over Berrettini in the French and US Opens of that same year. Despite his previous losses to the Serbian, Berrettini will be looking to cause an upset and kickstart his season with a victory.
The Qatar Open draw has produced several other exciting first-round matches. Reigning champion Karen Khachanov is set to face Daniil Medvedev, while rising star Alcaraz will take on 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic.
Andrey Rublev, also a top-10 player, will play Alexander Bublik. British hopeful Jack Draper has been drawn against Alexei Popyrin.
Should Djokovic progress, he could face Alcaraz in the later stages of the tournament, setting up a tantalizing showdown between two of the sport’s biggest stars.
However, the tournament has been marred by the news of Jannik Sinner’s three-month ban. The Italian star, who was ranked No. 1 in the world, failed two anti-doping tests last year.
In a statement released by his lawyers, Sinner accepted responsibility for his team’s actions and acknowledged the importance of WADA’s (World Anti-Doping Agency) strict rules.
He accepted WADA’s offer to resolve the matter with a three-month sanction.
Sinner’s withdrawal from the Qatar Open is a significant blow to the tournament and his fans, who were eager to see him compete.
