The
2017 instalment of the Qatar Classic begins on Sunday October 29 at the
Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha as the top
players on the Men’s Tour take part in the second World Series event of
the season.
Tournament top seed and World No.1 Gregory Gaultier will begin his tournament against Mexico’s Cesar Salazar – who recently won the Chicago Open. This will be the Frenchman’s first appearance of the 2017/18 season after suffering with an ankle injury that saw him forced to withdraw from both the NetSuite Open and U.S. Open.
Gaultier could face two-time Qatar Classic champion Mohamed ElShorbagy in the semi-finals of the tournament should both prevail through their respective fixtures. The Egyptian former World No.1 has had a strong start to the season, which has seen him claim titles at the NetSuite Open and Channel VAS at St George’s Hill and a runner-up finish at the U.S. Open. ElShorbagy will open against a qualifier in round one.
U.S. Open champion and current leader on the World Series Standings, Ali Farag, will look to continue his purple patch as he also opens against a qualifier in round one.
Elsewhere, defending champion, Karim Abdel Gawad – who beat ElShorbagy 3-0 in the 2016 final – opens against Spain’s Borja Golan at 19:30 local time on October 30.
Also in the bottom half of the draw, three-time World Champion Nick Matthew – who beat Egypt’s Karim Darwish in the 2009 Qatar Classic final – will start his tournament against a qualifier in round one.
Tournament wildcard and home hope Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi will be looking to start strong in front of his home crowd as he comes up against Egypt’s Fares Dessouky in round one.
Other strong contenders in the men’s draw include England’s former World Noi.1 James Willstrop, who last won the tournament in 2005. The Yorkshireman faces a tough ask in round one as he takes on Peru’s Diego Elias, who has been one to watch on the Men’s Tour so far this season – defeating England’s Matthew at the NetSuite Open and Marwan ElShorbagy at the U.S. Open. The younger ElShorbagy brother will begin his tournament against New Zealand’s World No.10 Paul Coll.
The Qatar Classic marks the second World Series event of the season for the Men’s Tour and presents another chance for players to earn points for the World Series Standings as they bid to qualify for the season-ending PSA World Series Finals – with only the top eight players on the men’s standings earning a coveted berth at the lucrative tournament.
Round one – draw (top-half)
October 29
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)
Daryl Selby (ENG) v [Q]
Diego Elias (PER) v [7] James Willstrop (ENG)
[5] Ali Farag (EGY) v [Q]
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [Q]
Fares Dessouky (EGY) v [WC] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT)
[Q] v [3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY)
Round one – draw (bottom-half)
October 30
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [Q]
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v [Q]
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [Q]
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v [8] Tarek Momen (EGY)
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Paul Coll (NZL)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Omar Mosaad (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER) v [Q]
Borga Golan (ESP) v [2] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Tournament top seed and World No.1 Gregory Gaultier will begin his tournament against Mexico’s Cesar Salazar – who recently won the Chicago Open. This will be the Frenchman’s first appearance of the 2017/18 season after suffering with an ankle injury that saw him forced to withdraw from both the NetSuite Open and U.S. Open.
Gaultier could face two-time Qatar Classic champion Mohamed ElShorbagy in the semi-finals of the tournament should both prevail through their respective fixtures. The Egyptian former World No.1 has had a strong start to the season, which has seen him claim titles at the NetSuite Open and Channel VAS at St George’s Hill and a runner-up finish at the U.S. Open. ElShorbagy will open against a qualifier in round one.
U.S. Open champion and current leader on the World Series Standings, Ali Farag, will look to continue his purple patch as he also opens against a qualifier in round one.
Elsewhere, defending champion, Karim Abdel Gawad – who beat ElShorbagy 3-0 in the 2016 final – opens against Spain’s Borja Golan at 19:30 local time on October 30.
Also in the bottom half of the draw, three-time World Champion Nick Matthew – who beat Egypt’s Karim Darwish in the 2009 Qatar Classic final – will start his tournament against a qualifier in round one.
Tournament wildcard and home hope Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi will be looking to start strong in front of his home crowd as he comes up against Egypt’s Fares Dessouky in round one.
Other strong contenders in the men’s draw include England’s former World Noi.1 James Willstrop, who last won the tournament in 2005. The Yorkshireman faces a tough ask in round one as he takes on Peru’s Diego Elias, who has been one to watch on the Men’s Tour so far this season – defeating England’s Matthew at the NetSuite Open and Marwan ElShorbagy at the U.S. Open. The younger ElShorbagy brother will begin his tournament against New Zealand’s World No.10 Paul Coll.
The Qatar Classic marks the second World Series event of the season for the Men’s Tour and presents another chance for players to earn points for the World Series Standings as they bid to qualify for the season-ending PSA World Series Finals – with only the top eight players on the men’s standings earning a coveted berth at the lucrative tournament.
Round one – draw (top-half)
October 29
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)
Daryl Selby (ENG) v [Q]
Diego Elias (PER) v [7] James Willstrop (ENG)
[5] Ali Farag (EGY) v [Q]
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [Q]
Fares Dessouky (EGY) v [WC] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT)
[Q] v [3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY)
Round one – draw (bottom-half)
October 30
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [Q]
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v [Q]
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [Q]
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v [8] Tarek Momen (EGY)
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Paul Coll (NZL)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v Omar Mosaad (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER) v [Q]
Borga Golan (ESP) v [2] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
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