Qatar’s Abdulla Al Tamimi thrilled fans with a victory over Englishman Adrian Waller in the Q-Terminals Qatar Classic match. Despite a tough battle, Al Tamimi emerged victorious with a 3-1 win. The Qatari No.1 expressed his happiness after the match, stating that there is still more to come in the next round. His next opponent will be Egyptian superstar Karim Abdel Gawad, setting up a high-profile second-round clash.
Among the spectators at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex were high jump superstar Mutaz Barshim and officials from various sports federations. Al Tamimi expressed his confidence in his abilities, especially with the support of the crowd and his family, particularly his father, who is his biggest supporter. His next match against Gawad will be one to watch as both players look to advance in the tournament.
Meanwhile, former champion Mohamed ElShorbagy suffered a shock exit in the tournament after being defeated by Fares Dessouky. Dessouky managed to secure a tense win in a tie-break, booking his spot in the last 16. ElShorbagy’s brother, Marwan, also faced defeat in the opening round against former world champion Tarek Momen. Momen, who won the Doha crown in 2019, set up a Round of 16 clash with Frenchman Sebastien Bonmalais after his victory.
There were more upsets in the tournament as Welshman Joel Makin shocked No.2 seed Paul Coll in straight sets. Men’s defending champion Ali Farag advanced with a straight-set win over fellow Egyptian Youssef Ibrahim. On the women’s side, England’s Lucy Turmel caused a huge upset by defeating No.8 seed Rowan Elaraby in a thrilling match. Turmel will face Egypt’s Amina Orfi in the next round, who made history by becoming the second youngest female player to reach the top 10. World No.2 Nouran Gohar also secured a win in her match against England’s Lucy Beecroft, setting up a meeting with Egyptian Nada Abbas in the next round.
Overall, the Q-Terminals Qatar Classic has seen some exciting matches and unexpected outcomes in the opening round. Fans can look forward to more thrilling action as the tournament progresses, with top players competing for the prestigious title. With strong performances from both local and international players, the competition is heating up, promising more excitement and surprises in the upcoming matches. Stay tuned for more updates from the Qatar Classic as the world’s best squash players battle it out on the courts of Doha.
