Alkass Digital
op seed Ali Farag of Egypt yesterday sailed into round three of the QTerminals Qatar Classic with a straight-game win over compatriot Mohamed Abouelghar but the day belonged to Welsh World No. 10 Joel Makin who stunned World No. 5 Paul Coll of New Zealand.
Qatar’s Mohamed Abdullah al-Tamimi yesterday also advanced with a slick performance against Omar Mosaad of Egypt on the Glass Court. Al-Tamimi, ranked 23, won 12-10, 11-4, 11-5 in just 32 minutes. In the first round, al-Tamimi crushed Lucas Serme of France on Sunday.
Farag yesterday barely broke a sweat as he carved out a 11-1, 11-5, 13-11 win over Abouelghar in just 36 minutes on the Glass Court at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
In the next round, Farag will play Fares Dessouky, who won an all-Egyptian affair against Karim El Hammamy. Dessouky won 7-11, 11-1, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4 in 64 minutes.
In round three, al-Tamimi – Qatar’s top squash player – will meet eighth seed Tarek Momen of Egypt who beat England’s Adrian Waller 11-7, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9 in 39 minutes.
Earlier on the Glass Court, defending champion and third seed Mohamed ElShorbagy came from behind to beat England teammate Charlie Lee. ElShorbagy needed 50 minutes for his 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3 win.
Joining Makin and ElShorbagy in the third round will be last year’s finalist Victor Crouin, who came from behind to beat Patrick Rooney 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (61m) while Mohamed ElSherbini beat Rory Stewart 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 (26m).
Round three of the women’s event yesterday 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 yesterday was given a testing time by Malaysia’s World No.43 Sivasangari Subramaniam.
Subramaniam, who on Sunday shocked World No.14 Olivia Clyne 3-0, 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 tomorrow.