Qatar’s Abdulla Mohamed Al Tamimi
Doha: Qatar’s Abdulla Mohamed Al Tamimi (pictured) defeated Egypt’s Mohamed Abouelghar in straight sets (11-6, 11-7, 11-6) to reach the Round of 16 of the PSA World Tour J P Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York City, United States, yesterday.
The World No.21 Al Tamimi had the better of his Egyptian opponent in 37m at the famous Grand Central Station to book a meeting against eighth seed Fares Dessouky of Egypt who defeated his compatriot Omar Mosaad in straight sets (11-8, 11-8, 11-1).
One of the day’s biggest clashes of the day was an all-Egyptian battle between Youssef Ibrahim and Youssef Soliman.
Youssef Soliman got the better of Youssef Ibrahim in a five-game epic full of unbelievable squash. Ibrahim was appearing in his first PSA match since the El Gouna International after recovering from a knee injury but showed no signs of any rust.
Both players charged round the court at lightning speeds. Soliman managed to pull away in the fifth game and converted at the first time of asking at 10-7 to take the match in 89 minutes.
At the Nicol Squash Club, Mohamed ElSherbini fought back from two games down to defeat Ramit Tandon, eventually winning a tie-break in the fifth and final game.
The Indian had shown his best squash in the opening exchanges, and he deserved a two-game lead. However, ElSherbini took a crucial third game 11-9, before cruising through the fourth to set up a deciding game. The fifth went to a tie-break, and it was the Egyptian that won it in the end, claiming it 12-10 to move through to the third round.
Meanwhile, at the New York Athletic Club, the French duo of Sebastien Bonmalais and Melissa Alves both scored victories to move into the last 16.
Alves came from behind twice during her contest with Egypt’s Hana Moataz, while Bonmalais got the better of Scottish No.1 Greg Lobban to book his spot in the third round.
At the glass court at Grand Central Terminal, it was plain sailing for all the higher-ranked players in the evening’s action. All five matches went to seeding, and were won in straight games.
Six-time World Champion Nour El Sherbini and New Zealand’s Paul Coll were both in scintillating form to book their spots in the last 16 of the competition, with the latter coming through a tough test against England’s Nathan Lake.
Results: Round 2
Men:
Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 3-2: 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3, 12-10 (73m)
Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 3-2: 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7 (89m)
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 12-10, 11-7 (51m)
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (37m)
[8] Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-1 (40m)
Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 3-1: 7-11, 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 (43m)
Women:
Melissa Alves (FRA) bt Hana Moataz (EGY) 3-2: 4-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3, 13-11 (60m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Nadine Shahin (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-2 (19m)
[5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Aifa Azman (MAS) 3-0: 11-8, 11-2, 11-6 (23m)
[7] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-4 (21m)
Olivia Clyne (USA) bt Hollie Naughton (CAN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-9, 11-4 (27m)
Tomato Ho (HKG) bt Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8 (48m)
