DOHA, QATAR - JANUARY 10: Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates with the trophy with Andy Roddick of United States after the final during the Exxon Mobil Qatar Open Tennis on January 10, 2009 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Andy Murray, currently world's No. 4 tennis player from the Scotland, earned his 9th career title by successfully defending on January 10 his trophy in Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2009, beating American Andy Roddick in the finals 6-4, 6-2. Murray defeated world No. 2 Roger Federer in the semis.
The finals held at the Khalifa Stadium in Doha was a sold-out. My friends and I tried getting tickets earlier in the day but to no avail. We were informed by the organizers that tickets have already been sold out long before the tourney unfolded. What a surprise for a tournament that offered free tickets years before and has been failing to captivate the interest of the football-loving Qataris (The absence of 'locals' during the matches is consipucuous ; the league is always watched mostly by expats, largely Indians and Filipinos). Too bad for me and my friends who didn't have the chance to have photos with their idol, let alone watch them play :( If only to cover up for my disappointment, I took photos with tennis superstars in huge billboards!
This is what happens when you are denied of tickets =)
Earlier, Murray also won at the non-ATP $ 250,000 exhibition tournament, the 2009 Capitala World Tennis Championship at Zayed Sports City in Abu-Dhabi. UAE Murray also defeated Federer here in the semis and subsequently prevailed over world No. 1 Rafael Nadal in the finals.
'Coz of his wins in these two gulf cities, we may now call Murray "The Desert King"!
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