Three-time
World Champion Nick Matthew was forced to call upon all his experience
to avoid a shock defeat against un-fancied German
qualifier Raphael Kandra in the first round of the 2017 Qatar Classic -
the second PSA World Series event of the 2017/18 season.
The
37-year-old, competing in his 20th and final season on the PSA World
Tour, looked to be in cruise control early on against the
World No.42 as he took the first two games to establish a commanding
lead.
But
Kandra, ten years Mathew's junior, was equal to the challenge, winning
the next two games to set up a compelling fifth during
which he matched Matthew all the way to 8-8. With an early exit looming
however Matthew managed to find just enough to escape, sealing the
12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 11-8 win that takes him through to face
Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet - who defeated Scotsman
Alan Clyne - in the second round.
"I was hitting hard and running with him early on which was silly because he's much younger than me," said Matthew.
"But
finally at the end I started to use my brain and my experience - which
shows you it's never too late. He was sharper than me
today but it was experience that saw me through.
"I
got out of jail. In the middle of the game I was mentally booking my
flight back home. Then I told myself to push on and just win
ugly. I don’t want to discredit him, he rushed me and hurried me and
pressured me but I have to go away and learn and focus on my own thing
and not worry about anyone else."
Matthew's
victory was just one of eight on a day of marathon encounters at the
Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex which
was highlighted by Omar Mosaad's thrilling and gruelling 108-minute
victory over Colombia's Miguel Angel Rodriguez.
The
opening game alone lasted 28 minutes and set up what was to follow as
the duo traded blows back and forth all the way until a
fifth game tie-break that saw both squander match ball opportunities
before Mosaad, a former World No.3 who slipped outside the top 30 this
year, forced the error that secured his place to take on compatriot
Marwan ElShorbagy for a place in the quarter-finals.
"You always know against him that it will be physical and that you need to stick to your plan," said Mosaad.
"I
had a good result at the last event I played and it's important to try
and stay in that zone and keep consistent. I'm trying to
get back up the rankings and I need to win more matches to get back on
track.
"In
the fifth I was getting tired and getting some cramps but I just tried
to fight and keep focused. I'm happy with how I managed
to do that and stay mentally strong."
Defending
champion Karim Abdel Gawad also came through a tough 62 minute
encounter with Spaniard Borja Golan to keep his defence alive,
surviving a huge fourth game tie-break to see out the win.
"Today
I wasn't at my best but you aren't always at your best and in those
days you have to find a way to win and get to the next
round," said Gawad.
"He put a lot of pressure on me today so I'm very happy to come through."
The other winners on day two of action were Germany's Simon Rösner, Australian Cameron Pilley and Egyptian Tarek Momen.
Results - First Round (Bottom Half): 2017 Qatar Classic
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [Q] Raphael Kandra (GER) 3-2: 12-10, 11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 11-8 (64m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 14-12, 11-3 (66m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG) 3-1: 11-3, 11-13, 11-9, 11-6 (57m)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 3-1: 11-4, 11-6, 7-11, 11-7 (43m)
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt Paul Coll (NZL) 3-1: 11-13, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6 (58m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 3-2: 13-15, 11-5, 12-10, 10-12, 14-12 (108m)
Simon Rösner (GER) bt [Q] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) 3-1: 11-7, 11-2, 8-11, 11-6 (46m)
[2] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 3-1: 4-11, 11-5, 11-7, 16-14 (62m)
Draw - Second Round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Zahed Mohamed (EGY)
[Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Diego Elias (PER)
[5] Ali Farag (EGY) v [Q] Leo Au (HKG)
Fares Dessouky (EGY) v [3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY)
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [8] Tarek Momen (EGY)
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Omar Mosaad (EGY)
v [2] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
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