Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatari No.1 Abdulla Al Tamimi zoomed into the second round on the opening day of the Q-Terminals Qatar Classic at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex as he dispatched England’s Adrian Waller 11-9, 11-13, 11-2, 12-10 in front of his home crowd.
Former World No.1 and World Champion Karim Abdel Gawad awaits Al Tamimi in the next round.
"I’m really happy everyone came to watch me today,” said Al Tamimi.
"Adrian Waller is a really good player and he’s very tall. I was very happy with the way I played some of the match, there is still a lot more to come for the next round though. In both previous tournaments I lost 3-2, so it’s good to get my first win of the season.
"I’m always confident against anybody, to be honest, especially with the crowd and my family here. My father is my biggest supporter and he is always here watching.”
In the day’s biggest upset, Welsh World No.9 Joel Makin shocked No.2 seed Paul Coll.
Makin had won just four of 17 previous matches against Coll, with his last victory against the Kiwi coming at this very venue 12 months prior, with that match lasting 93 minutes and going to four games.
This time around, Makin was able to get the job done in straight games. He looked full of confidence as he nullified Coll, and his 11-8, 11-4, 11-4 victory over the New Zealander has sent shockwaves throughout the draw.
"My form has been good since the start of the season,” said Makin afterwards.
No.8 seed and four-time champion Mohamed ElShorbagy also saw his title challenge come to an end at the first hurdle after he went down to Egypt’s Fares Dessouky in five games.
ElShorbagy had fought back from two games down to level the scores, but Dessouky managed to get the better of the former World No.1 in a tense tie-break to book his spot in the last 16. Dessouky will take on Switzerland’s Dimitri Steinmann next.
In the women’s action, World No.2 Nouran Gohar scored a confident 3-0 win against England’s Lucy Beecroft. Gohar will now play fellow Egyptian Nada Abbas for the third tournament in a row after beating her in both the CIB Egyptian Open and Paris Squash.
"I’m very proud with my [recent] results. I was injured here last year and I had to stay at home for six months watching everyone playing. I wanted to play at a decent level, and I think that took off a bit of pressure. I learned some lessons at that time,” said Gohar.
Belgium’s Nele Coll kept focused as she overturned a 1-0 deficit against Joelle King.
That lack of match fitness became evident as the match wore on, with Coll making King suffer as she extended the rallies and put a lot of work into the Kiwi’s legs. Coll’s 9-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-2 win will see her play Wales’ Emily Whitlock in the last 16. Whitlock overturned five match balls to beat Egypt’s Malak Khafagy.
Earlier, England’s Lucy Turmel caused the biggest upset during the afternoon session as she came back from two games down to take out No.8 seed Rowan Elaraby.
Turmel, who today returned to the top 20 of the PSA Women’s World Rankings for the first time since April 2022, celebrated with an 8-11, 2-11, 14-12, 11-7, 12-10 triumph to reach round two.
World No.3 Hania El Hammamy got her title defence under way as she beat Japan’s Satomi Watanabe in straight games.
"It’s a tough draw playing against Satomi in the first round, so there was no time to mess around,” said El Hammamy.
Turmel will play Egypt’s Amina Orfi – who today became the second youngest female player to reach the top 10 – in the next round, with Orfi defeating Farida Mohamed.
Men’s defending champion Ali Farag navigated a tricky first round encounter with fellow Egyptian Youssef Ibrahim, winning 11-7, 11-5, 11-7.
The World No.1 weaved his web and dictated the tempo of the match, with Ibrahim quickly falling off at 6-6 in the third game after letting his frustration with a decision get the better of him.
"Youssef is one heck of a player, he’s got everything you need, he is explosive and so skilful with the racket,” Farag said.
"When I play with his generation at a fast pace, they absolutely dominate me. I had to be very smart with the way I approached the match today. Youssef has been struggling with injuries for the past year or so and he rolled his ankle at the Egyptian Open.”
Elsewhere, No.5 seed Mazen Hesham was tested by Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng, while Youssef Soliman also battled to a 3-2 win against Aly Abou Eleinen, and he will take on Farag in the next round.Q-Terminals Qatar Classic 2024Qatar’s legendary Olympian and high jump star Mutaz Essa Barshim and other officials with Qatar’s squash No.1 Abdulla Al Tamimi at the start of the Q-Terminals Qatar Classic at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Monday.Green Park, Kanpur Test