Emir of Qatar: Moroccan tennis players promoted Arab tennis at international scale

Emir of Qatar, Sheik Hamad Ben Khalifa Al Thani, said Moroccan tennis players have raised Arab tennis to international level.

The Qatari Head of State told Al Jazeera TV channel that the participation of Moroccan tennis players in the Doha Open lends something special to the tournament and that Hicham Arazi, Karim Alami and Younes Al-Aynaoui have fans in Qatar "including myself," the Emir of Qatar said.

He said he was among the public that attended the Open's final last Saturday and that applauded the victory of Morocco's Younes Al-Aynaoui over Spanish Felix Mantilla (4-6, 6-2, 6-2).

Al-Aynaoui is the first Arab and African to win the Doha Open, a victory that propelled him to be world number one on ATP ranking.