India’s Ramit Tandon pulled off a thrilling win while advancing into the second round of the QTerminals Qatar Classic along with veterans Borja Golan of Spain and former World No 1 James Willstrop.
Day one of the week-long championship at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Sunday did not produce any surprising results save for Tandon getting past the challenge of Scotland’s Greg Lobban, who is ranked 14 places higher than him.
England’s former World No 1 James Willstrop took just 18 minutes to dispatch USA’s Faraz Khan in straight games. England’s Willstrop has been in a rich vein of form recently, beating the likes of Marwan ElShorbagy and Mohamed Abouelghar at the US Open earlier this month to become the oldest ever Platinum quarter-finalist.
And the 38-year-old dominated proceedings against Khan to wrap up an 11-1, 11-4, 11-3 victory. “I have the experienced today, I’ve been here about 500 times,” said Willstrop.
“I’ve got experience on the court, it’s a tough court to play and if he hasn’t been here before that can be a tough prospect. I don’t take anyone lightly and I prepared really well. I hope it’s a sign of respect because if I let go for a couple of seconds then things can quickly change,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Tandon overcame a few hiccups to register a thrilling 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 12-14, 11-8 win and march into the second round where he will take on England’s Patrick Rooney in round two.
Rooney fought his way back to carve out a thrilling 11-3, 9-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9 over Tsz Fung Yip of Hong Kong and advance into the second round.
It was a memorable day for the Indians as World No.55 Mahesh Mangaonkar completed his first ever win at a PSA World Tour Platinum event after a commanding performance against Scotland’s Alan Clyne. The 27-year-old from Mumbai had lost his last three matches to Clyne, including a 3-0 defeat to the World No 50 at the Cleveland Skating Club Open last week.
This time around, Mangaonkar was on top from the off as he showed some nice touches to power into a 2-0 lead and eventually win it at 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-2 in 48 minutes. Mangaonkar will now take on Germany’s Raphael Kandra in the second round tie.
Kandra won 11-2, 11-7, 11-5 against Abdulrahman al-Malki of Qatar, the wild card entrant from Qatar to end the hosts challenge at the championship. Qatar’s Sayed Azlan Amjad went down fighting to Declan James of England 11-4, 11-5, 11-7. The Englishman will now take on Diego Elias of Peru in the second round tie.
Golan also stormed into the round of 32 with a commanding 3-1 victory over Todd Harrity of USA. The 38-year-old won 13-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2 to set up a round two, clash with No 4 seed Marwan ElShorbagy of Egypt.
In the last match on Center Court, Rui Soares of Portugal defeated Arturo Salazar of Mexico in a five-game thriller 7-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-6, 11-6 to advance to the next round, where he will take on British Open and second seed Paul Coll of New Zealand.

DAY ONE RESULTS
Ramit Tandon (IND) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 3-2: 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 12-14, 11-8; Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) 3-2: 11-3, 9-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9; Declan James (ENG) bt [WC] Syed Azlan Amjad (QAT) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-7; Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [WC] Abdulrahman al-Malki (QAT) 3-0: 11-2, 11-7, 11-5; Borja Golan (ESP) bt Todd Harrity (USA) 13-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2; James Willstrop (ENG) bt Faraz Khan (USA) 11-1, 11-4, 11-3; Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 3-1: 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-2; Rui Soares (POR) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 7-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-6, 11-6; Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 3-1: 12-10, 6-11, 11-3, 2-0 retired; George Parker (ENG) bt Bernat Jaume (ESP) 3-2: 3-11, 9-11, 14-12, 13-11, 11-6; Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Mazen Gamal (EGY) 11-4, 11-5, 11-6; Tom Richards (ENG) bt Shahjahan Khan (USA) 11-4, 11-5, 11-7; Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 3-2: 11-4, 11-9, 10-12, 10-12, 11-7; Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 3-2: 5-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9; Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Ryosei Kobayashi (JPN) 3-2: 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7; Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 3-2: 3-2: 11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 9-11, 11-3 (75m)
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