Abdel Gawad beats home favourite al-Tamimi

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October 2, 2024
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2-October-2024

Abdel Gawad beats home favourite al-Tamimi

Doha: Egypt’s former World No 1 Karim   beat Qatari No 1 Abdulla al-Tamimi 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7 to book his spot in the quarter-finals of the QTerminals Qatar Classic.

Gawad, the 2016 Qatar Classic champion, was in fine form at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex as he took the opening game, but al-Tamimi grew into the match in the second to draw level, much to delight of the home crowd.

However, Gawad was quickly able to get back on top in the third and took the next two games without reply to earn his last eight spot.

“The Qatari audience is very aware of good shots,” Gawad said after the match. “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. It will be a hard match, Mostafa is in good form and won the last two tournaments. I’m playing better squash now too and I’m moving better on court, so I’m looking forward to it.”

Gawad will play World No 2 Mostafa Asal next, with Asal making it 12 wins in a row after getting the better of World Junior Champion Mohamad Zakaria earlier in the day.

Asal won 11-6, 11-7, 11-3.

In Women’s event, United States’ No 1 Olivia Weaver scored a 3-0 win over World No 15 Fayrouz Aboelkheir to reach the quarter-finals of the Qatar Classic for the first time. Weaver won 11-5, 11-0, 14-12 (31m).

“You never know what’s going to happen on a squash court,” said Weaver. “You have to prepare for everything, but I knew the game plan I wanted to execute. She’s coming off an amazing week in Paris and she is extremely talented. I felt confident that I could take away some of her weapons and I’m pleased to get through that in three.”

Belgium’s World No 5 Nele Coll earned her spot in the quarter-finals after a routine win over Wales’ Emily Whitlock. Coll won 11-4, 11-3, 11-6. In other matches on Wednesday, 17-year-old Amina Orfi reached the quarter-finals for the first time after beating England’s World No.20 Lucy Turmel 11-4, 11-4, 14-12 while World No.2 Nouran Gohar made it five wins in a row against fellow Egyptian Nada Abbas to earn her place in the last eight. Gohar won 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 win after 35 minutes.