Qatar Classic 2024 : It’s Sherbini and Elias !!

FINALS : Sherbini comeback denies Gohar as Elias edges past Asal

Top seed Nour El Sherbini staged a remarkable comeback from two games down against world champion Nouran Gohar to claim her third major title of the season and her first Qatar Classic crown, while men’s world champion Diego Elias claimed his second Qatar title as he overcame Mostafa Asal in three tie-break games.

Roundup below the draws …

Sherbini comeback denies Gohar as Elias edges past Asal

Elias lifted his second Qatar Classic trophy after he followed up yesterday’s dismantling of World No.1 Ali Farag with a 12-10, 12-10, 14-12 victory over Asal to end the Egyptian’s 14-match winning run.

It was their first meeting since Elias prevailed in May’s PSA World Championship final, but Asal has gone from strength to strength since that defeat, collecting trophies at the British Open, CIB Egyptian Open and Paris Squash.

All three games were closely contested and went to tie-breaks, but Elias raised his level each time to emerge victorious. Elias – who also won the Qatar Classic in 2021 – has now lifted 19 titles on the PSA Squash Tour, with this being his first title of the 2024-25 season.

“I’m super happy after my performances yesterday and today,” said Elias. “I knew it was going to be a really tough match. Mostafa has been playing amazing squash, he’s got to the last six or seven finals, so I had that in my mind. It’s amazing to have my dad, Jonathon [Power] and Greg [Gaultier] supporting me today, it’s a win for all of us.

“I love it here. The way the organisers treat the players doesn’t compare to anywhere in the world, so you’re super happy. I enjoy every moment here and thanks to all of the organisers and everyone that makes this tournament possible.”

Meanwhile, El Sherbini completed a magnificent comeback as she overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat World Champion Gohar in a thrilling women’s final at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.

The pair were meeting for the ninth major final in a row, with four wins apiece coming into today’s match. El Sherbini had won both of their matches this season, with victories in the CIB Egyptian Open and Paris Squash title deciders.

El Sherbini fought back from two games down, and with the scores tied at 4-4, her forearm accidentally caught Gohar in the nose as she chased down a drop shot at the front of the court. Gohar left the court in tears and required lengthy treatment from the physio.

The World No.2 returned to court and continued to fight through the pain barrier, but El Sherbini was able to get herself in front and was clinical as she closed out a 10-12, 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 win after 96 enthralling minutes.

The victory sees El Sherbini fill her trophy cabinet with the only remaining major trophy she was yet to win, further underlining her status as one of the finest players ever to pick up a squash racket. The Egyptian has now won 43 PSA titles and has won 15 matches in a row as she continues her unbeaten start to the season.

“It was a very enjoyable match until she got hit,” said El Sherbini. “She’s a fighter and a champion. She’s so strong and it’s always a pleasure sharing a court with her. It’s the third final we’ve played this season and I have so much respect for her.

“I’m really happy I’ve finally won this title, and I’ve won everything now, so I can relax a bit. I’m definitely happy I’ve won the first three titles of the season. My parents are here and are sharing this moment with me. It means a lot and they’re always in my corner.”

SEMIS : Elias dethrones Farag as finalists decided in Doha

World Champion Diego Elias reached the final of the QTerminals Qatar Classic for the third time after a sensational performance from the Peruvian saw him upset top seed and defending champion Ali Farag at Doha’s Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.

Elias stormed to an 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 victory after just 40 minutes of action.

“I had my game plan ready and I was feeling good, but it doesn’t happen often that you beat Ali in 40 minutes,” said Elias. “I really enjoy playing here and I really enjoy this court. When I’m here I think I play my best squash. I’m very excited to play another final here in Doha. I love it here and it’s my first final of the season too because I lost to Ali in the last two tournaments.”

Elias’s opponent in the final will be World #2 Mostafa Asal in a repeat of last season’s World Championship final.  Asal came from behind to beat Welshman Joel Makin, triumphing 5-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4  to extend his winning run to 14 matches. The Egyptian is looking to win three PSA Squash Tour titles in a row for the first time in his career.

“He was playing elite squash and was forcing me to make errors,” said Asal. “I wasn’t finding a way, but thanks to the crowd, they pushed me all the way, it feels like home here. I wasn’t giving it 100 per cent in the beginning, but then I looked at the crowd and it pushed me all the way through. It was an amazing match, Joel is just an unbelievable player and I’m really happy with the win.”

A new name will be etched on the women’s trophy after top seeds Nour El Sherbini and Nouran Gohar booked their spots in the title decider. It will be the ninth major final the pair have contested in 2024, with four wins apiece so far.

El Sherbini reached the final for the third time in a row after she ended avenged her defeat in last year’s final to Hania El hammamy in an enthralling 83-minute five game match.

“I lost to her in the final last year, so I’m really happy with the way I fought back and pushed her every point,” said El Sherbini. “Hania is amazing, she’s been through a lot and she’s always coming back stronger. It was tough but fair, and I’m really happy. I’m happy it was a good match for the crowd to watch and I’m happy to be through. I will try not to have any pressure or stress on me tomorrow. I will recover, relax and do my best tomorrow, I hope I can grab that title.”

Gohar  reached the Qatar Classic final for the first time after she overcame USA’s Olivia Weaver,in four games, helped by a comeback from 2-8 down in the third.

“It can’t get much better than playing Nour in the final,” Gohar said. “It’s been the final of the World Championship for the past four years. We’ve both been so consistent and I’m very proud to share these moments with Nour. We bring the best out of each other and we keep on trying to level up the game. I’m very excited for a final on this court, so to be through to the final here in Qatar means so much.”

QUARTERS : Makin joins top seeds in last fours in Doha

Welshman Joel Makin is the only unseeded player to reach the last four stage after he overcame Egypt’s Fares Dessouky in the men’s quarter-finals.

World No.9 Makin has been in great form so far this week, beating secon seed Paul Coll in straight games in round one, before a 3-0 win against Frenchman Baptiste Masotti in the last 16. He added Dessouky to that list to ensure he will play the in-form Mostafa Asal for a place in the final.

“I was really sharp, I thought, but he wasn’t anywhere near his best,” said Makin. “It’s one of those when you can be winning comfortably, but it was down to his error count rather than me playing well. I was containing him, but once he switched he was very dangerous. He’s got world-class skill, but it’s not about that. I’ve had two really good matches, that wasn’t as good, but that’s professional sport.”

Asal – who has won both the CIB Egyptian Open and Paris Squash so far this season – made it 13 wins in a row as he came from game down to beat 2016 winner Karim Abdel Gawad.

“Karim is like a big brother to me,” said Asal afterwards. “I’m super proud and it’s an honour for me to share the court with him. I was 11 years old the first time and he bagelled me twice, I always remember this. He has a big heart and he is a legend, he won the World Championships in 2016 and I was a kid supporting him and going to watch him.”

Top seed and defending champion Ali Farag ended the run of Switzerland’s Nicolas Mueller and he will play World Champion Diego Elias, who got the better of former World Champion Tarek Momen, in the semi-finals.  

Women’s top seed Nour El Sherbini came through a tricky quarter-final  against England’s Georgina Kennedy to claim her 13th successive win on the PSA Squash Tour and book her place in the semi-finals.

“I’m proud to win this match,” said El Sherbini. “We haven’t played for a long time, but she was playing amazing. It wasn’t going my way in the middle of the match, but I tried to be patient, tried not to make errors, I tried to be focused for every point and I’m definitely pleased to win this match.”

El Sherbini will go up against defending champion Hania El Hammamy next in a repeat of last year’s final. Third seed El Hammamy – who beat El Sherbini in five games during the 2023 title decider – scored a 3-0 win against Belgium’s Tinne Gilis to book her last four berth.

Fifth seed Olivia Weaver reached the semi-finals of the Qatar Classic for the first time following a real tussle with Belgium’s fourth seed Nele Coll, eventually prevailing after 72 minutes of action to set up a semi-final meeting with World Champion Nouran Gohar, who beat World Junior Champion Amina Orfi.

“I don’t think it’s been under an hour when Nele and I have played,” said Weaver. “She’s such an unbelievable competitor and retriever, and you have to earn every single point. I haven’t beaten her in a while on tour. She’s had some unbelievable battles and I really wanted this today. I’m really pleased I bounced back after that second game. I stuck to it, I found my length and I reasserted myself in the middle. I’m very relieved to get through that.”

Day THREE : Gawad ends home hopes as QF lineups finalised

Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawad sent Qatari favourite Abdulla Al-Tamimi out of his home event  as he booked his spot in the quarter-finals. Gawad, the 2016 Qatar Classic champion, pulled away after Tamimi had levelled the match to win in four games.

“The Qatari audience is very aware of good shots,” said Gawad. “Abdulla was on fire today and he can hit winners out of nowhere, so it was hard to read him today. Thanks to the Qatari crowd who supported him but also cheered for my good shots.

Gawad will play  Mostafa Asal next with Asal, winner of the last two major events. making it 12 wins in a row after getting the better of World Junior Champion Mohamad Zakaria.

Welshman Joel Makin followed up his first round upset of second seed Paul Coll with victory over France’s Auguste Dussourd, and he will go up against Egypt’s Fares Dessouky , who came from a game down to beat Dimitri Steinmann, for a place in the last four.

In the women’s event second seed Nouran Gohar continued her attempt to win a first Qatar Classic trophy as she stormed to a third successive major event 3-0 victory against fellow Egyptian Nada Abbas.

“That’s the third time I’ve played her this season and she reached the semis of the first ever Diamond event, which shows the calibre of player she is,” said Gohar. “I knew she was going to make it tough today. I was up for it and it’s never easy. From the very first match you get a tough match and you can see that from the upsets, we have top seeds going out of the tournament in the first round.

In the quarters Gohar will meet world junior champion Amini Orfi, who dispatched England’s Lucy Turmel to reach the Qatar last eight for the first time. There were also wins for Belgium’s Nele Coll and USA’s Olivia Weaver, who beat Emily Whitlock and Fayrouz Aboelkheir.

Day TWO : Mueller upsets Hesham as round two begins

Switzerland’s Nicolas Mueller scored the only upset on day two of the QTerminals Qatar Classic as he took out fifth seed Mazen Hesham in four games to reach the quarter-finals of a Platinum event for the first time since April 2022.

Mueller hadn’t beaten Hesham in his last nine attempts but triumphed in four games, and will go up against top seed and defending champion Ali Farag for a place in the last four.

“Nobody is going to beat me 10 times, apart from maybe Simon Rösner,” said Mueller afterwards. “We both had very tough matches yesterday and I felt pretty good out there today. It was a very good win for me today, so I’m very much looking forward to the quarter-finals.”

Also through to the next round is World Champion Diego Elias, who dispatched Germany’s Raphael Kandra. He will play Egyptian veteran Tarek Momen – who lifted his World Championship trophy in Doha five years ago – for a place in the semi-finals.

Reigning women’s champion Hania El Hammamy booked her last eight spot following a straight-game victory over fellow Egyptian and wildcard Salma Eltayeb.

“It was a bit tricky not knowing what to expect. She’s very attacking and very powerful, so I had to be alert and ready for her shots. I’m glad I got through in three.”

El Hammamy will take on  Tinne Gilis in the last eight after the Belgian fought back from a game down to beat England’s Jasmine Hutton.

Top seed Nour El Sherbini is also through after beating Sana Ibrahim, and the seven-time World Champion will play sixth seed Gina Kennedy, who beat Wales’ Tesni Murphy.

Day ONE : Makin takes out second seed Coll in Round One

Wales’ World#9 Joel Makin scored the biggest upset on the opening day of action at the Q-Terminals Qatar Classic as he put in a masterclass to shock second seed Paul Coll at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.

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, a match which lasted 93 minutes and went 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. He will play Frenchman Auguste Dussourd next.

“My form has been good since the start of the season,” said Makin afterwards. “I won the British Nationals and won in Manchester at the end of the season, then I reached the semis of the British Open, so I’ve been in good form. I came up against Asal, who was in good form, in Egypt, then Gawad put in an impressive performance in Paris and sometimes you just have to shake hands and say well done.”

Eighth seed and four-time champion Mohamed ElShorbagy exited the event at the hands of World #17 Fares Dessouky, while the women’s eighth seed Rowan Elaraby also saw her tournament come to an end, losing to England’s Lucy Turmel, despite holding a match ball in the third game.

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. 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.

“I was getting chopped really in the first two games,” said Turmel. “It was one of those where I said to myself that it can only get better. Going into the third, I just wanted to try and get back into the match and give a bit of a better account of myself and fight. After the third, I just felt like the match restarted and then the last two were obviously tightly contested, but I just showed a lot of a lot of grit and fight at the end there.”