Doha: Three-time World Champion Ramy Ashour and Nick Matthew of England may be missing from the line up at the PSA World Series stop in Doha for the 2015 Qatar Classic.
But that has certainly not taken away the sheen of the event.
There will be enough firepower and entertainment for the next one week at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex from today when the PSA and WPA series kicks off with the other top ranked players in action.
World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy will both be looking to bag yet another title haveing won the world championship here last year.
Elshorbagy will take on Qatar’s Abdullah Al Tamimi in the first round match today.
After the exit of the three Qatari players in the qualifying, Abdullah is the lone hope for the host nation.
This is the 14th consecutive year of PSA World Tour action in Doha.
With all of the world’s top players, Gregory Gaultier and Miguel Angel Rodriguez, in the draw the 2015 Qatar Classic has the potential to deliver the same drama and excitement witnessed in the venue 12 months ago, druing the world championship and this season will also see the return of top level women’s squash to Doha - with the women’s PSA World Series returning to the Khalifa Stadium for the first time since 2011.
2011 champion Nicol David will be aiming to continue her dominant form, having taken six of the previous seven titles available in Qatar, but will be up against new World No.1 Raneem El Welily in what looks to be a compelling women’s draw.
The joint-event will bring over 100 of the world’s finest squash practitioners to Doha for a jam-packed week that will see over 100 matches played out over six days to the delight of the tournament organisers.
“We’re very pleased to welcome the best squash players in the world to Doha once again for what promises to be a fantastic tournament, building on the success of last year’s astounding World Championship, and to welcome the best female players back to Doha for the first time since 2011,” said Qatar Squash Federation president Nabeel Bin Ali.
“Qatar continues to grow as a squash nation year-on-year and we are delighted to continue our support of the PSA World Tour for another year in what is a brand new era of joint-governance for the sport.”
Meanwhile, in the qualifying rounds, it was another good day for the Egyptian girls as they claimed five of the eight spots.
Young Mayar Hany opened the day by beating top seed Donna Urquhart, and Mena Nasser finished it by putting out second seed Misaki Kobayashi, who had to retire injured after a collision early in the fourth game.
In between Nadine Shahin got the better of Milou van der Heijden, Amina Yousry beat Sina Wall, and Hania El Hammamy won her all-action all-Egyptian match with Nouran El Torky.
Also upsetting the odds to reach the main draw for the first time was England’s Fiona Moverley, and while Olivia Blatchford and Coline Aumard justified their seedings to win, Aumard finds herself up against fellow Frenchwoman Camille Serme - who was coaching her during the match - in the first round. In the men’s draw six of the matches went to seeding, although none could be classed as easy wins.
Greg Lobban and Ali Farag progressed against the seedings, Lobban beating Zahed Mohamed in five to book himself match against Max Lee, a repeat of their US Open first round, while Farag came from a game down to beat fellow-Egyptian Omar Abdel Meguid. Today’s women’s matches start at 12noon while those in the men’s section at 6.00pm.
The Peninsula
