Peru’s World No 7 Diego Elias reached the last 16 of the Qatar Classic after defeating home hope Abdulla Mohamed al-Tamimi 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 in the third round yesterday.
The Peruvian had never got the better of al-Tamimi in their previous three meetings but that changed yesterday with too many “tins” in the first game from the Qatari player.
Elias was much more comfortable in the second, finding his accuracy and length well to quickly double his advantage with al-Tamimi struggling with his movement.
It all went wrong for al-Tamimi in the third after he slipped whilst retrieving the ball in the front left and required physio treatment. He came back onto court to see out the match, but it was simple for Elias to close out with al-Tamimi unable to move smoothly due to a hamstring strain.
Elias will face Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez for a place in the quarter finals of the PSA Platinum event.
“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.
“It’s really hard for me, we’re really good friends too, so I’m really sad for what happened and I hope he has a quick recovery.”
Egypt’s World No 1 Ali Farag kicked off his title defence with a 3-0 win over England’s Richie Fallows.
The 28-year-old, who recaptured his place at the top of the rankings this month, was challenged by Fallows in the opening two games with the 25-year-old finding some good shots and making the scoreline close in each. However, Farag was able to remain clinical towards the end of each game to take a 2-0 lead.
Farag then looked completely at ease in the third, taking the ball in well on the cold court to close out 11-9, 11-8, 11-3 in 28 minutes.
Up next for Farag is Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng for a place in the quarter finals after he defeated England’s Declan James earlier in the day.
“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.
“Another guy I’ve never played before up next. What a promising talent he is, World Junior champion and has been knocking on the door for a while now. He is based in Bristol and is playing well, you could tell from his win today against a great player like Declan James, so I will have to watch his match and hopefully I will be ready. “We need nothing here, the Qatar Squash Federation always does a great job of making us feel comfortable and there is nothing else you need other than thinking about your squash.”
Meanwhile, England’s former World No 1 James Willstrop overcame Scotland’s World No 22 Greg Lobban 11-7, 13-15, 11-7, 11-7 to reach the last 16.
Willstrop, who is featuring in his 17th Qatar Classic event and has won the trophy before in 2005, was at his accurate best in the first game to take a one game lead.
Willstrop will face the winner of Tarek Momen vs Youssef Soliman in the next round.