History
The first tournament was held in 2001 as Qatar Total FinaElf Open for the prize money of $170,000, as a Tier III tournament. In 2004, the tournament got Tier II category because of an increase in prize money to $600,000, and in 2007 to $1,340,000. For the 2008 season, which was the last season it was held, the tournament became Tier I, for the prize money of $2,500,000. The tournament then took a two year break due to the venue hosting the WTA Tour Championship thus not being played in 2009 or 2010. The tournament returned in 2011 as a Premier Event with the prize money of $721,000 and a 32-competitor singles draw (16-pair doubles draw). In 2012, The tournament got Premier 5 status due to the success of last year's tournament that featured seven of the top ten players and also due to the recent history of the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Read more about this topic: Qatar Ladies Open
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—Georges Clemenceau (1841–1929)
“Every generation rewrites the past. In easy times history is more or less of an ornamental art, but in times of danger we are driven to the written record by a pressing need to find answers to the riddles of today.... In times of change and danger when there is a quicksand of fear under men’s reasoning, a sense of continuity with generations gone before can stretch like a lifeline across the scary present and get us past that idiot delusion of the exceptional Now that blocks good thinking.”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)