It was a mysterious looking mist filled night at Khalifa stadium for the Qatar ExxonMobil Open when Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga approached the chair umpire and cried, "It's impossible!". I didn't know what he was referring to until a serve or two later when Gael Monfils stopped play to confer with the umpire, as well. 
Play ended abruptly and a barrage of workers took to the courts to rough up, what appeared to be slick paint brought on by the 100% humidity in the air. It was quite a spectacle, but with the latest technology in court grooming (steel brushes and towels?), play resumed.
Despite the fact that the crowd pleasing Federer and Nadal were absent from the action (Federer due to injury, Nadal due to loss to Monfils), the French came through with finesse making our prime seats worth the money. After a crash and burn that looked to be tournament ending, Tsonga went
on to take out fellow Frenchman, Monfils, in two sets. Qatar Tennis Federation closed out the 20th anniversary of the ATP World Tour in high fashion with a light show montage of past champions of the tournament, as well as presenting many of them live on the court afterward.
Tsonga celebrates his win at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open
Photos by me ;)
To read or leave comments, please click on the comments link below. Thanks!
No comments:
Post a Comment
I always love hearing your comments. Go ahead make my day, be it the good, the bad, or the ugly...