2010

El Tayeb and Pallikal surprised in Qatar!

November 9, 2010 • Tags: , , , , , • Categories: all posts, tournaments

Teenagers Nour El Tayeb and Dipika Pallikal (pic) produced notable upsets on the opening day of main draw action in Doha. Rapidly-rising 17-year-old Nour El Tayeb struck the mightiest blow, beating fellow Egyptian Omneya Abdel Kawy, the 3rd seed, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 in just 27 minutes. India’s Dipika Pallikal made up for the disappointment of having to miss last month’s Commonwealth Games in her home county when she recorded a stunning 13-11, 3-11, 4-11, 11-4, 12-10 victory over Ireland’s 15th seed Aisling Blake in 64 minutes. Top seed Nicol David, the world No.1 looking for her 50th title on the WISPA Tour, eased into the 2nd round after beating England’s Emma Beddoes 11-6, 11-4, 12-10. All other seeded players didn’t face any notable problems to reach the next round.

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Qatar’s first round has been completed!

November 8, 2010 • Tags: , , , , , , , • Categories: all posts, tournaments

The last 4 matches of the 1st round didn’t show three tough encounters and the easy going of No.1 seed Nick Matthew (ENG) who ruled Qatar wild card Ahmad Mohd Al-Tamimi 21 minutes long (11-2, 11-3, 11-3). Australian Cameron Pilley came back from one game down to beet Borja Golan, qualifier from Spain in 4 games (9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-3). Daryl Selby (pic), 8th seed from England, had to fight all the way trough to beat Finland’s Olli Tuominen (FIN) after 79 minutes (11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8). In the all-English match, the last one of today, 15th seed Alister Walker was taken to the full distance by compatriot Tom Richards (6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6).

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The First 4 matches on day 2 in Qatar …

November 8, 2010 • Tags: , , , , , , • Categories: all posts, tournaments

… did end with victories of the favourite players in different styles. While Australian 11th seed David Palmer did not feel at his best, he was still in control to beat the Englishman Jonathan Kemp 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 in 33 minutes. French veteran Thierry Lincou (pic ri) found more difficulties to get back from one game down to beat firing Egyptian Hisham Ashour (pic le) 6-11, 11-5, 16-14, 11-9. Stewart Boswell (AUS) took the chance of a solid win over Egyptian qualifier Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) (11-6, 11-9, 11-5), while his compatriot 3rd seeded Karim Darwish punished 19-years-old Fin Henrik Mustonen in 20 minutes 11-2, 11-5, 11-4.

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Mosaad downs El Hindi in Qatar!

November 7, 2010 • Tags: , , , , , , • Categories: all posts, tournaments

Four games more took place in Qatar today. 3 seeded players had more problems, than they expected, one had big problems and lost. While Greg Gaultier (FRA) got back from one game down to beat the 19-year-old Egyptian qualifier Karim Abdel Gawad 8-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-4. Next match brought the 1st upset of the tournament, when Omar Mosaad (pic ri) downed Egyptian compatriot Wael El Hindi (pic le) in 60 minutes 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-5. Englishman and 6th seed Peter Barker beat German qualifier Simon Rosner in four tough games (11-5, 13-11, 5-11, 11-8). In an all-Egyptian games Mohamed El Shorbagy overcame Tarek Momen in 49 minutes 16-14, 11-6, 11-9.

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Qatar main draw started – no surprises so far!

November 7, 2010 • Tags: , , , , , , , • Categories: all posts, tournaments

After world No.1 Ramy Ashour had to withdrawal Egyptian fellow countryman Amr Shabana (pic le) moved up to No.1 position at the Qatar Classic in Doha. In the opening match he beat Swiss star Nicolas Mueller (pic ri) in straight games (14-12, 11-9, 11-7). All-English game between Adrian Grant and Joey Barrington lasted for 45 minutes before Grant win in four 10-12, 11-2, 11-1, 11-5. 5th seed James Willstrop (ENG) eased through to a straight games win over South African qualifier Stephen Coppinger (11-9, 11-6, 11-5). After Laurens Jan Anjema just took the 1st game in the tiebreak. The next two games became more relaxed for the Dutchman, and finally he overcame Mohd Ali Anwar Reda of Egypt 13-11, 11-7, 11-6.

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All-English final in Canada!

November 7, 2010 • Tags: , , , , • Categories: all posts, tournaments

Top seed Chris Simpson (pic) led a trio of Englishmen completed by the Czech No.1 Jan Koukal through to the semi-finals of the Jericho Open in Vancouver, Canada. Simpson overcame compatriot Joe Lee in straight games 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 after 57 minutes. Just one minutes more needed James Snell to secure an all-English final, when he beat Jan Koukal in 4 games (11-4, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9).

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Birthday boy Mustonen makes maiden Super Series draw!

November 6, 2010 • Tags: , , , , • Categories: all posts, tournaments

Finland’s Henrik Mustonen (pic) gave himself the best possible present on his 20th birthday when he beat Egypt’s Andrew Wagih Shoukry in the qualifying finals of the Qatar Classic to earn a place in his first PSA Super Series main draw, where he will now face Egypt’s No3 seed Karim Darwish. Yesterday’s birthday boy German Simon Rosner survived a 71 minutes encounter against Max Lee from Hong Kong to meet Englishman Peter Barker in the 1st round. Qualifying finals results: Tom Richards (ENG) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-1, 12-10, 5-11, 11-9 (54m), Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Yann Perrin (FRA) 11-6, 11-7, 11-2 (26m), Simon Rosner (GER) bt Max Lee (HKG) 11-6, 12-10, 5-11, 3-11, 11-7 (71m), Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-1, 11-2, 11-3 (29m), Borja Golan (ESP) bt Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) 11-13, 11-5, 11-5, 2-11, 11-5 (105m), Henrik Mustonen (FIN) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 11-7, 10-12, 14-12, 11-8 (57m), Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Martin Knight (NZL) 15-13, 11-5, 11-8 (41m), Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) bt Julien Balbo (FRA) 11-6, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9 (70m).

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Shoukry upsets Cuskelly in Qatar qualifying!

November 6, 2010 • Tags: , , , • Categories: all posts, tournaments

Egypt’s Andrew Wagih Shoukry survived a gruelling 98-minute battle in the $147,500 Qatar Classic to claim an unexpected place in the qualifying finals in Doha. The 20-year-old from Cairo, ranked 89 in the world, reached almost 50 places above him in the rankings to overcome 23-year-old Australian Ryan Cuskelly 9-11, 15-13, 8-11, 11-7, 12-10 in the day’s biggest upset. The eight qualifying finals matches have a broad international flavour – reflecting representation from England, Scotland, Egypt, Finland, Switzerland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, South Africa, New Zealand, Spain and Australia.

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