Yousaf Banks Doha Title
by Howard Harding
26 February 2012 - In a remarkable PSA World Tour event which featured a 'seedless' semi-final line-up, Pakistan's Muhammad Saqib Yousaf emerged victorious to claim his maiden Tour title at the inaugural Doha Bank PSA Challenger in Qatar.
It was in the quarter-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 5 squash event at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha that the 20-year-old from Lahore made his breakthrough by upsetting fellow countryman Waqas Mehboob, the No3 seed.
In the final, Yousaf faced Ahmed Hawas - an unseeded Egyptian who despatched fourth-seeded Kuwaiti Bader Al Hussaini in the last eight.
There was little between the two players in the final - points were shared at 8-8 in the first and 9-9 in the second, but Yousaf was able to finish both games in his favour.
In the third, the same scenario was repeated - but it was Hawas who was able to clinch the game to reduce the deficit.
The 22-year-old from Cairo also had three game-balls in the fourth - but, with some solid returns and well-structured rallies, Yousaf found his way back into the match to win 11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 13-11 after 54 minutes.
Yousaf received his trophy from Mr Yousef Hashim, Executive manager Doha Bank.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Doha Bank PSA Challenger, Doha, Qatar
1st round:
[Q] Ahmed Atef Abdel-Fattah (EGY) bt [2] Anthony Graham (ENG) 11-8, 11-8, 1-11, 5-11, 11-7 (94m)
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt Ahmad Alzabidi (JOR) 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 (43m)
Ahmed Hawas (EGY) bt Alex Ingham (ENG) 11-7, 12-14, 11-8, 11-5 (45m)
[4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) bt [Q] James Simpson (ENG) 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 (28m)
[3] Waqas Mehboob (PAK) bt Ahmed Mohammed Al Tamimi (QAT) 11-2, 11-4, 11-4 (13m)
Muhammad Saqib Yousaf (PAK) bt Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) 11-2, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5 (36m)
Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt [Q] Aamir Khan (UAE) 6-11, 11-3, 11-5, 11-8 (33m)
[Q] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) bt [1] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 11-6, 11-3 ret. (11m)
Quarter-finals:
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) bt [Q] Ahmed Atef Abdel-Fattah (EGY) 11-7, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10 (45m)
Ahmed Hawas (EGY) bt [4] Bader Al Hussaini (KUW) 12-10, 11-7, 11-7 (34m)
Muhammad Saqib Yousaf (PAK) bt [3] Waqas Mehboob (PAK) 11-9, 6-11, 11-3, 11-5 (35m)
Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) bt [Q] Carlos Cornes Ribadas (ESP) 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (27m)
Semi-finals:
Ahmed Hawas (EGY) bt Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 12-10, 11-6, 6-11, 14-12 (41m)
Muhammad Saqib Yousaf (PAK) bt Alejandro Garbi Caro (ESP) 8-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9 (58m)
Final:
Muhammad Saqib Yousaf (PAK) bt Ahmed Hawas (EGY) 11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 13-11 (54m)
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