Egypt's Youssef Ibrahim plays a shot against compatriot Mohamed ElShorbagy during their second round match of the Qatar QTerminal Classic at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, yesterday.
Doha: Youssef Ibrahim yesterday repeated history when the World No.17 stunned top seed Mohamed ElShorbagy in the second round of the Qatar QTerminal Classic at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
In a much-hyped match, Ibrahim took full advantage of a slow start by ‘The Beast’ to win the match 11-3, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9 in 47 minutes, denying the World No.2 a revenge of his last year’s defeat in the Doha quarter-final. The 22-year-old shocked the three-time Qatar Classic champion 3-2 last November in the same court.
After Ibrahim won the first two games in quick time, ElShorbagy staged a fightback by pulling one game back but errors cost the World No.2 in the fourth game as he bowed out from a PSA tournament without winning a single game for the first time since 2009.
“I expected myself to play really well,” Ibrahim said after shocking his Egyptian compatriot yesterday.
“I knew my win against him last year would rile him up and he would come at me today and I didn’t want to be a victim. I’m also the kind of player who plays better when I’m angry, so I tried to give myself a reason to be angry today,” he added.
Ibrahim will meet another countryman Mazen Hesham in the last 16 stage today.
Meanwhile, in other all-Egyptian clash yesterday, World No.15 Mohamed Abouelghar also pulled off an upset, beating fifth seed Karim Abdel Gawad 4-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 in 45 minutes.
After Gawad won the first game, Abouelghar fought back strongly to dispatch his compatriot and book tomorrow’s third round clash with England’s Adrian Waller.
“I cannot put into words how much I needed this win. I’ve been losing a lot of 3-2s recently and it just got into my head too much. I managed to stay focused, put my head down and just keep working. I’m very happy with the performance tonight,” said 28-year-old Abouelghar.
New Zealand’s second seed Paul Coll, however, ensured smooth sailing with a comfortable 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 victory over Portugal’s Rui Soares in 26 minutes to mark his 400th PSA Tour appearance.
New Zealand's Paul Coll in action against Rui Soares of Portugal.
Soares, who became the first Portuguese player to win a match at a PSA World Tour Platinum event on Sunday, started on a bright note but Coll – the reigning British Open champion – controlled the match with a clinical display to sail into the last 16.
“The final last year came at a really good time for me,” said Coll, who lost out to World No.1 Ali Farag in the 2020 title decider.
“It gave me a lot of confidence in my career to reach a big final. I was stagnating and then I came to Qatar, made the final, and it was a really big boost for me mentally. I’ve got really memories of this court and Qatar, I love coming here and hopefully it’s third time lucky this year,” he added.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s third seed Tarek Momen also cruised into the last 16 after overcoming Englishman James Willstrop 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 in 38 minutes.
Momen, who clinched the 2019 PSA World Championship title in Doha two years ago, played fascinating squash to oust the 2005 winner Willstrop, who took just 18 minutes to reach the second round with an easy win over America’s Faraz Khan.
“It’s such a pleasure to play him (Willstrop) always. He’s fair and the way he plays is incredible, you can never play a match against him and not enjoy it whether you win or lose. Of course, it feels a lot better when you come out the winner, but I enjoy what he does with the racket and you always try to outmaneuver him,” said the World No.4.
Also yesterday, fourth seed Marwan ElShorbagy entered the last 16, escaping a surprise defeat like his older brother.
Marwan made a comeback from 2-1 down to overcome a challenge from Spain’s Borja Golan. He won the match 11-9, 10-12, 11-13, 11-7, 11-6 in 65 minutes. Marwan will take on Germany’s Raphael Kandra in the pre-quarter-final today.
Results
Second Round
Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt [1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) 3-1: 11-3, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9 (47m)
Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt George Parker (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 (25m)
Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 3-1: 11-9, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6 (37m)
[8] Joel Makin (WAL) bt Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 3-0: 12-10, 11-9, 11-8 (55m)
[6] Diego Elias (PER) bt Declan James (ENG) 3-2: 10-12, 11-6, 9-11, 11-0, 11-8 (67m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-4 (47m)
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) 3-2: 11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-4 (59m)
[4] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 3-2: 11-9, 10-12, 11-13, 11-7, 11-6 (65m)
[3] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 (38m)
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Lucas Serme (FRA) 3-1: 12-10, 11-8, 4-11, 11-9 (54m)
Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-2: 11-2, 6-11, 10-12, 11-3, 11-8 (66m)
[7] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 3-1: 7-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-6 (69m)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 3-1: 4-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 (45m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY): Walkover
Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-0: 11-2, 14-12, 11-1 (26m)
[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Rui Soares (POR) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 (26m)
Last 16
TODAY:
Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) v Mazen Hesham (EGY)
Patrick Rooney (ENG) v [8] Joel Makin (WAL)
[6] Diego Elias (PER) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)
Raphael Kandra (GER) v [4] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
TOMORROW:
[3] Tarek Momen (EGY) v Tom Richards (ENG)
Youssef Soliman (EGY) v [7] Mostafa Asal (EGY)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v Adrian Waller (ENG)
Baptiste Masotti (FRA) v [2] Paul Coll (NZL)
