Peru's Elias Ends Al Tamimi’s Run on Day Three of Qatar Classic | Sportsmonks
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Peru’s Elias Ends Al Tamimi’s Run on Day Three of Qatar Classic

Peru’s World No.7 Diego Elias ended home hopes at the 2020 Qatar Classic, PSA World Tour Platinum event after downing the country’s No.1 player – Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi – in the second round earlier today at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.

Elias had never beaten Al Tamimi in three attempts prior to today’s encounter, but came through to win 11-9, 11-4, 11-8. The No.5 seed was also helped by a hamstring strain sustained by Al Tamimi, who was forced off court for an injury break during the third game while 8-6 down.


Elias will take on fellow South American Miguel Rodriguez in the next round. Colombian Rodriguez overcame USA’s Shahjahan Khan in straight games.

“We’ve played all of our lives,” said Elias following the match.

“I think the first time we played I was 14 and he was 16. We played a couple of times in juniors and he beat me there also, it’s the first time I’ve beat him here. He is really hard to play, he has so many different shots from the front and I never know what he’s going to do. 

“With Miguel, we’ve played four times in PSA but maybe 35 times in South American tournaments and Pan American tournaments. I’ve only beat him once in like 30 times, so it’s always a really tough match. I’ve been watching him since I started playing, so I’m really looking forward to that match and I’m feeling good.”

Meanwhile, Egypt’s Ali Farag began his second reign at World No.1 with a comfortable victory over England’s Richie Fallows, winning 11-9, 11-8, 11-3 in 28 minutes, the shortest match of the round.

Farag is the defending champion in Qatar after beating Germany’s Simon Rösner at the 2018 tournament and needs to reach the final in Doha this week to be certain of retaining the World No.1 spot which is under threat from three-time champion Mohamed ElShorbagy, who relinquished the ranking to Farag two days ago.

“We’ve never played before, but I know how talented Richie is,” said Farag afterwards.

“This is a unique court in a good way in that it takes the ball in very easily, so any bad shot and you’re penalised immediately. All credit to Richie, he played really well. In the first two I couldn’t really find my range, and in the third I was happy I was able to find the corners I was intending to”

Reigning World Champion Tarek Momen made his return to the venue where he won the biggest trophy in men’s squash 12 months ago with a hard-fought 3-1 win over fellow Egyptian Youssef Soliman.

World No.3 Momen, who beat New Zealand’s Paul Coll in last year’s PSA Men’s World Championship final, wasn’t at his best against a dogged Soliman, but did enough to book his place in the last 16 courtesy of an 13-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-5 victory which will see him play former World No.1 James Willstrop in the next round.

“The issue is we are playing partners and so we play a lot together and that made it difficult today,” Momen said.

“We know each other’s game very well. I was definitely aware of how he has been improving his game. I expected a tough game from him today and I got one.”

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng has earned his spot in the third round of a Platinum event for the third time in four events after the World No.31 took out England’s Declan James with a terrific 3-0 victory.

Yow is ranked seven places below James in the PSA World Rankings but put in a peerless performance to win 13-11, 11-7, 11-8, earning him a third round meeting with Farag.

“Once the tour was suspended [due to COVID-19], I knew it would not be be possible to break in to the top 20,” Yow said.

“I just changed my mindset to being good enough to beat the top 20. I’ve been just believing and training hard to achieve that target of beating guys in that top 20 mark.”

Round three begins tomorrow (November 4). Play starts at 11:00 (GMT+3) and will be shown live on SQUASHTV and the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour (excluding Europe & Japan).

Results – Second Round (Bottom Half): 2020 Qatar Classic

  • [3] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Youssef Soliman (EGY) 3-1: 13-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-5 (56m)
  • James Willstrop (ENG) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 3-1: 11-7, 13-15, 11-7, 11-7 (59m)
  • Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 (57m)
  • [8] Joel Makin (WAL) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 (33m)
  • [5] Diego Elias (PER) bt Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 (43m)
  • Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt Shahjahan Khan (USA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (45m)
  • Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt Declan James (ENG) 3-0: 13-11, 11-7, 11-8 (42m)
  • [2] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Richie Fallows (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-3 (28m)

Draw – Third Round: To Be Played November 4th

  • [1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v Youssef Ibrahim (EGY)
  • Borja Golan (ESP) v Fares Dessouky (EGY)
  • [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Raphael Kandra (GER)
  • Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Paul Coll (NZL)
  • [3] Tarek Momen (EGY) v James Willstrop (ENG)
  • Lucas Serme (FRA) v [8] Joel Makin (WAL)
  • [5] Diego Elias (PER) v Miguel Rodriguez (COL)
  • Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v [2] Ali Farag (EGY)

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