Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar’s Abdulla Mohamed Al Tamimi moved into the pre-quarterfinals of QTerminals Qatar Classic with a straight games win over Egypt’s Omar Mosaad at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Monday.
It was a second impressive match from the home star Al Tamimi, who needed just 32 minutes to register the win in the PSA World Tour Platinum event. He however did face stiff resistance from Mosaad in the first game winning 12-10. Al Tamimi the changed gears to claim the next games with much ease with scores of 11-4 and 11-5.
On the second day of the high-profile event, Al Tamimi had defeated Frenchman Lucas Serme with scores of 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 in his first major PSA match upon his return to action following the recovery from a hip surgery.
“I am truly delighted with this victory. It was a particularly challenging match, considering that my opponent is one of the world’s finest squash players. Nonetheless, I managed to perform at a high level and secured the victory in three clean sets,” Al Tamimi said after defeating the 35-year-old former world No.3 Mosaad.
Al Tamimi’s next opponent will be the World No.8 Egyptian Tarek Momen, who advanced after overcoming Englishman Adrian Waller 3-1 (11-7, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9) in a thrilling contest yesterday.
Al Tamimi acknowledged that his match against Momen, a former finalist in Doha, will be tough. Al Tamimi highlighted the similarities between him and the former World Champion, and noted he will focus on deploying different tactics against Momen today.
Al Tamimi also expressed his gratitude for the tremendous support he received from his fans during the match, and stated that their encouragement served as a huge motivation towards his success upon return from injury layover.
Earlier in the afternoon, Welsh World No.10 Joel Makin shocked New Zealand’s World No.5 Paul Coll in a pulsating 93-minute encounter to reach the third round.
Signs of Makin’s intent were in evidence early on as he took the game to Coll, who went into the match with an 11-3 head-to-head record.
The 28-year-old, while still exchanging plenty of brutal rallies with the former World No.1, looked to attack when the opportunity presented itself.
For the most part, this strategy delivered, with Makin taking a 2-1 lead after 11-6 and 11-8 wins, either side of an 11-7 Paul Coll win in game two.
In a nerve-shredding fourth game, Makin had three match balls at 10-7. A combination of errors from the Welshman and dogged defending from Coll saw the Kiwi force a tie-break, however.
Despite the errors, Makin continued to balance brutal rallying with attacking initiative and, eventually, was able to break down Coll’s defences as he claimed a 14-12 victory to reach the third round.
Earlier on the glass court, defending champion Mohamed ElShorbagy avoided a similar fate to Coll as he came from behind to beat England teammate Charlie Lee.
Round three of the women’s event also began with an all-England encounter as England No.1 Georgina Kennedy beat Sarah-Jane Perry in straight games.
In a one-sided affair, Kennedy never looked like letting the lead slip with Perry, who appeared to be struggling with injury, unable to counter Kennedy’s relentless pace as the 26-year-old booked her spot in the quarter-final in 21 minutes.
In the second women’s round three match, Egyptian No.3 seed Hania El Hammamy was given a testing time by Malaysia’s World No.43 Sivasangari Subramaniam.
Subramaniam was second best early on as El Hammamy quickly built a 6-1 lead. The Malaysian, however, fought back well and, after saving a game ball, earned a game ball opportunity of her own at 11-10.
The Egyptian, though, clung on, clinching the game 13-11 before completing the victory with a pair of 11-6 wins.
El Hammamy will take on Kennedy in the quarter-final on September 13th.
Results:
Women’s Third Round
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt. Amina Orfi (EGY)3-1: 11-3, 11-13, 11-9, 11-6 (50m)
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt. Olivia Fiechter (USA)3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 (26m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt. Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS)3-0: 13-11, 11-6, 11-6 (39m)
[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt. Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-5 (21m)
Men’s Second Round
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 3-0: 11-1, 11-5, 13-11 (36m)
[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt Charlie Lee (ENG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3 (50m)
Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bt Rory Stewart (SCO) 3-0: 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 (26m)
[7] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Patrick Rooney (ENG) 3-1: 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (61m)
Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 3-2: 7-11, 11-1, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4 (64m)
Joel Makin (WAL) bt [4] Paul Coll (NZL) 3-1: 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 14-12 (93m)
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt. Omar Mosaad (EGY)3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 11-5 (32m)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt. Adrian Waller (ENG)3-1: 11-7, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9 (39m)
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt. Ramit Tandon (IND)3-1: 8-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-7 (52m)
Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt. Baptiste Masotti (FRA)3-1: 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-6 (40m)
Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt. George Parker (ENG)3-1: 11-8, 11-13, 11-8, 11-6 (61m)
[6] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt. Miguel Rodriguez (COL)3-0: 15-13, 12-10, 11-9 (49m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt. Eain Yow Ng (MAS)3-1: 12-10, 6-11, 11-7, 11-8 (53m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt. [5] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG)3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 12-10 (34m)
Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt. Saurav Ghosal (IND)3-0: 11-3, 11-2, 11-6 (37m)
[2] Diego Elias (PER) bt. Auguste Dussourd (FRA)3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (31m).
