QTF President Nasser Al Khelaifi and the President and General Manager of ExxonMobil Qatar Alistair Routledge pose for a photograph with World No.1 Andy Murray, the defending champion Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga alongside other s
ExxonMobil Qatar and Qatar Tennis Federation hosted a gala dinner earlier this week to celebrate the tournament’s 25th anniversary and its 2017 edition which is now in progress.
The event was attended by Qatari officials, key business and community leaders, and several of the tennis players who will be competing in this year’s tournament, including: World no. 1 Andy Murray, 2016 defending champion Novak Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych.
Each year, the gala features a variety of unique activities and performances by world-renowned entertainers. In a special performance for the tournament’s 25th anniversary, famed magician and mentalist Oz Pearlman intrigued the audience with an interactive show. His performance featured a dazzling mind-reading routine and involved the tennis stars to the audience’s amusement.
Nasser Al Khelaifi, President of the Qatar Tennis Federation, and Alistair Routledge, President and General Manager for ExxonMobil Qatar, welcomed guests and spoke about the history of the strong partnership their organizations share; and the people behind the tournament’s success.
“Welcome to the 2017 Qatar ExxonMobil Open. This year is a very important one in the life of our tournament – it’s our 25th Anniversary, and we are thrilled that you are here to celebrate with us,” said Routledge.
“This event marks a major milestone in a 25-year journey, one that began with the sowing of some very small but well-selected seeds a quarter of a century ago. Those seeds took root in a relationship between ExxonMobil Qatar and the Qatar Tennis Federation that has now blossomed into a success story that serves as an example of what partnerships can achieve.”
“While we’re all here to watch some incredible tennis, let’s not lose sight of what the Qatar ExxonMobil Open means for the country and its people. It’s one of the many projects Qatar has created for the world to enjoy, and it has contributed significantly to its standing as an international business and investment hub. It is also a wonderful venue for inspiring an appreciation for active lifestyles in the Qatari community – particularly among the youth. I look forward to seeing the many more contributions of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open that lie ahead,” Routledge added.
Tariq Zainal, Secretary General of the Qatar Tennis Federation, said, “It is a great privilege to welcome our fans once again to Doha in the 25th anniversary of this world-class event. The Qatar ExxonMobil Open is a symbol of the strategic and enduring partnership between the energy company ExxonMobil and QTF aimed at taking the sport to higher heights and bringing the community of Qatar the finest tennis and entertainment.”
“As we are about to experience another exciting week of top-level tennis, I would like to appreciate everyone, especially the committees that have worked assiduously to ensure a successful event yet again,” he added.
