Easy path for top seed Shapovalov,Murray to meet Daniel in opener of Qatar Exxonmobil Open in Doha

 Top-seeded Denis Shapovalov was handed a relatively easy path at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open   2022,   but   the   2021   quarter-finalist in Doha could be on a collision course with the defending  champion  Nikoloz  Basilashvili of Gerogia, the draw revealed on Saturday.

The 30th edition of Qatar ExxonMobil Open, part of the ATP Tour 250, will offer a total of  $1,176,595  in  prize  money  and  will  begin  at  the  Khalifa  International Tennis & Squash Complex tomorrow.The 22-year-old World No. 12 Shapovalov has a first round bye in the 32-player Doha field. The six-feet plus left-handed Shapovalov awaits the winner of   Slovak   Alex   Molcan   vs   Serbian Filip Krajinovic for his opening round opponent.

The left hander enjoyed few notable wins at the Australian Open   before   going   down   fighting to Grand Slam record-holder   and   the   eventual   champion Rafael Nadal of Spain in a five-set thriller in the Mel-bourne  quarter-finals.  Those  who fell victims to Shapovalov at the Melbourne Park included World No. 3 Alexander Zverev and Reilly Opelka. 

In his second appearance in Doha,  Shapovalov  also  has  Kazakh   Alexander   Bublik,   seeded seventh, in the top half of  the  draw  with  a  possible  quarter-final meeting. If  Shapovalov  progresses  then  he  could  well  meet  the  tournament’s     defending     champion Nikoloz Basilashvili of Gerogia in the semi-finals.The 29-year-old Basilashvili is  expected  to  meet  the  fast-rising  Italian  teen  Lorenzo  Musetti, who plays a qualifier in his opening clash.

In contrast, a relatively difficult  meeting  will  await  last  year’s runner-up and second-seed Roberto Bautista-Agut of Spain in his opening match at the Khalifa International Tennis &  Squash  Complex.  Bautista-Agut may have to face three-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Andy Murray of Britain – a two-time winner in Doha. 

In his first round, wild card entrant Murray plays Japanese Taro Daniel, who ended the Briton’s run at the Australian   Open   in   Melbourne. In  the  mix  are  4th  seeded    wild    card    Croatian  Marin  Cilic,  and   Belgian   David   Goffin. Goffin  could  possibly meet sixth-seeded Russian         Karen         Khachanov    in    the    second         round.         Khachanov will start his campaign against Mac-kenzie McDonal of the US. 

Seedings:1. Denis Shapovalov (CAN), 2. Roberto Bautista-Agut (ESP),  3.  Nikoloz  Basilashvili  (GEO), 4. Marin Cilic (CRO), 5. Daniel Evans (GBR), 6. Karen Khachanov (RUS), 7. Alexander Bublik  (KZK),  8.  Lloyd  Harris  (RSA)

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