$150K Qatar Classic Qualifying Finals Report
by Howard Harding






photos courtesy Steve Cubbins

9 November 2013 - Eight players from different nations made it through today's qualifying finals of the Qatar Classic to earn places in the main draw of the seventh PSA World Series squash event of the year at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in the Qatari capital Doha.

Veteran Helsinki-based Olli Tuominen became the sole Finn in the main draw after twice coming from behind to see off young Englishman Charles Sharpes 5-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-2, 11-6 in 56 minutes.

Having earned his 13th successive appearance in the event since 2001, the 34-year-old world No 28 will now face Dutchman Laurens Jan Anjema, the world No 18, in the first round.

By contrast, Denmark's Kristian Frost Olesen secured his maiden Qatar Classic appearance after beating Kuwait's Ammar Altamimi 11-9, 11-7, 11-4. The lowest-ranked player to qualify, world No 63 Olesen has been drawn to meet eighth-seeded Egyptian Tarek Momen.

England's Joe Lee survived the day's longest match. The world No 33 was pitted against Egypt's Marwan Elshorbagy, ranked just a single place higher.

But 24-year-old London-born Lee fought back from 1/0 and 2/1 down and saved two match-balls in the decider to beat Elshorbagy 9-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-1, 12-10 in 93 minutes.

Lee's reward is a first round clash with Australian No 1 Cameron Pilley.

RESULTS: PSA World Series Qatar Classic, Doha, Qatar

Qualifying finals:
Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt Charles Sharpes (ENG) 5-11, 11-2, 8-11, 11-2, 11-6 (56m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 11-2, 11-3, 8-11, 11-4 (44m)
Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt Harinder Pal Sandhu (IND) 9-11, 11-3, 11-8, 5-11, 11-1 (61m)
Joe Lee (ENG) bt Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) 9-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-1, 12-10 (93m)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6 (53m)
Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN) bt Ammar Altamimi (KUW) 11-9, 11-7, 11-4 (41m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-6, 13-11, 11-13, 11-8 (78m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt Nasir Iqbal (PAK) 14-12, 13-11, 11-3 (59m)

Updated 1st round draw:
[2] James Willstrop (ENG) v [WC] Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT)
Daryl Selby (ENG) v [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA)
Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) v [Q] Olli Tuominen (FIN)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Chris Simpson (ENG)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) v [Q] Kristian Frost Olesen (DEN)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [Q] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Ong Beng Hee (MAS)
[4] Karim Darwish (EGY) v Adrian Grant (ENG)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Alister Walker (BOT)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) v [Q] Max Lee (HKG)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [Q] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) v Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
Tom Richards (ENG) v [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [Q] Joe Lee (ENG)
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Simon Rosner (GER)