India’s Saurav Ghosal (left) in action against Kuwait’s Ammer al-Tamimi during the qualifying round for the Qatar Classic squash yesterday. PICTURES: Jayan Orma
The 2017 edition of the Qatar Classic begins at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex today.
The PSA World Series event is the second stage on the Road to Dubai series – after the US Open US Open – which will culminate with the World Series Finals in Dubai next year. With the top eight players on the Road to Dubai standings earning a place in the end-of-season Dubai finale, the Qatar Classic offers another chance to the world’s top squash players to accrue points and qualify for the lucrative season-ender.
Former World No 1 Ramy Ashour withdrew last week due to illness, but there are still enough top names, led by defending champion Karim Abdel Gawad from Egypt. The other stars in the fray are - three-time World Champion Nick Matthew from England, former world No 1 Mohamed El Shorbagy and current World No.1 Gregory Gaultier – who is the only player outside of England and Egypt to lift the title – all triumphing in Doha.
El Shorbagy is hoping to become the first player to win the Qatar Classic title three times, after lifting the title in 2013 and 2015. Last year, he also missed a chance to claim three back-to-back titles when he lost the final to Gawad in the final.
World Champion Gawad is also aiming to come back stronger after a mixed start to the 2017-18 season. Gawad has had an up-and-down beginning to the new season, with a runner-up finish to ElShorbagy at the Oracle NetSuite Open last month followed by a shock first round defeat at the hands of World No.10 Paul Coll at the US Open.
The 26-year-old from Giza is determined to put that defeat behind him though as he targets a third successive World Series title to go with his triumph in Qatar last year and the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions crown he picked up in January inside New York’s stunning Grand Central Terminal.
“For me, that loss will just make me stronger and hungrier to win,” said the former World No 1.
“I know I didn’t perform my best, I know losing in the first round is not what I am supposed to do. That will make me learn from it and come back as strong as I can.”
Second seed Gawad has a tricky first round tie against Spain’s former World No 5 Borja Golan in store. Golan had got the better of Gawad in their Windy City Open quarter-final clash in February. Matthew, the 2009 winner, is also on Gawad’s side of the draw and is making his last ever appearance at the tournament after last month’s announcement that he will be retiring at the end of the season.
The world No 5 Ali Farag, who is leading the race to Dubai points table, is also aiming for his first Qatar Classic after his exploits at the US Open where he made history alongside wife Nour El Tayeb earlier this month in Philadelphia by winning the same major singles title on the same day.
World No 37 Abdulla Mohamed al-Tamimi represents local hopes in the main draw as wildcard.
It was a good day for the top seeds in the as qualifying round as six of the eight favourites clinched the main draw spots. Top seeded Scot Alan Clyne was first to qualify, fending off a late challenge from former 2016 world junior champion Eain Yow Ng, and eighth seed Chris Simpson was the last, winning a close all-English encounter with Declan James to finish the day two.
There were two seeding upsets as Germany’s Raphael Kandra winning a tight five game contest to record his first ever win over training partner Nicolas Mueller and Adrian Waller adding to the English contingent as he edged past third seed Omar Abdel Meguid in four games. There were wins for Hong Kong pair Leo Au and Tsz Fung Yip, a solitary Egyptian in Karim Ali Fathi, and India’s in-form second seed Saurav Ghosal.
The Qatar Classic is the second men’s World Series tournament out of seven this season and will see players battle for points on the PSA World Series Standings.
Entry to the tournament is free of charge up to the semi-finals and final. Semi-final tickets are priced at QR20 for back wall tickets and QR15 for side wall seats. For the final, ticket prices are QR30 for back wall seating and QR20 for side wall seats. Tickets can be purchased at the kiosk in front of the spectator gate on both days.
QUALIFYING ROUND RESULTS
* [1] Alan Clyne (Sco) 3-1 Eain Yow Ng (Mas) 11-4, 11-2, 13-11 (31m)
* [5] Tsz Fung Yip (Hkg) v Charles Sharpes (Eng) 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 (77m)
* Karim Ali Fathi (Egy) 3-1 [10] Campbell Grayson (Nzl) 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5 (55m
* [11] Adrian Waller (Eng) 3-1 [3] Omar Abdel Meguid (Egy) 11-2, 7-11, 12-10, 11-9 (47m)
* [15] Raphael Kandra (Ger) 3-2 [4] Nicolas Meuller (Sui) 13-11, 7-11, 11-7, 7-11, 11-7 (61m)
* [7] Leo Au (Hkg) 3-1 Richie Fallows (Eng) 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-1 (51m)
* [8] Chris Simpson (Eng) 3-0 [9] Declan James (Eng) 13-11, 11-9, 11-6 (57m)
* [2] Saurav Ghosal (Ind) 3-0 Ammar al-Tamimi (Kuw) 11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (29m)
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