*** Rafa Nadal***

Nadal, Federer to Start 2009 at Qatar Open

World number-one men's tennis player Rafael Nadal of Spain and second-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland will begin the 2009 season competing in the Qatar Open in Doha.

Nasser al-Kholiafi, the president of Qatar's tennis federation, says Britain's Andy Murray and American Andy Roddick also will take part in the 32-player event. The hard-court tournament runs from January 5-11.

The Qatar Open in Doha is one of three events kicking off the 2009 ATP tennis season. The Brisbane International in Australia, and the Chennai Open in India also begin on January 5.