Selby Sends Mosaad Crashing Out on Day Two of Qatar Classic by Sean Reuthe
photos squashpics.com
November 14, 2016
- England’s Daryl Selby claimed one of his biggest wins in recent years
after he came through a five-game battle with World No.4 Omar Mosaad on
the second day of the 2016 Qatar Classic, World Series tournament held
at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha.
The World No.19 relinquished a one-game lead to go 2-1 down, but
produced a spirited fightback to claim a huge 11-9, 5-11, 2-11, 11-9,
11-2 victory for the 34-year-old - his first win over Mosaad at the
sixth attempt.
"It was tough as it always is, and it hasn’t really sunk in yet, but
I’m delighted obviously to beat him for the first time," said Selby.
"It was a similar match to the ones we’ve played in the past, they
always seem to be five-gamers and they’re always fairly physical. I
expect that really because he’s such a big guy. He’s tough to play
because he hits the ball so hard and so cleanly.
"Maybe I kept my head a little bit better in the fifth game and he
looked a little bit despondent. He’s lacking a little bit of confidence
at the moment, whereas I’ve been having some decent results."
World Champion Karim Abdel Gawad got his tournament off to a winning
start as he led compatriots Marwan ElShorbagy and Zahed Mohamed through
to the second round, where there will be a five-strong Egyptian
contingent after World No.1 Mohamed, the older brother of Marwan, and
World No.9 Tarek Momen claimed wins on the opening day of action.
Gawad, competing less than two weeks after he defeated compatriot Ramy
Ashour in the PSA Men’s World Championship final in Cairo, went a game
behind courtesy of some consistent play from Reda.
But the 25-year-old found his range and showcased his sublime attacking
talents to full effect as he won the next three games in comfortable
fashion, taking it 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-3 to ensure that he will take
on Mohamed - who beat England’s Tom Richards - for a place in the
quarter-finals.
"I was very, very tired after the World Championship,” said Gawad.
“I finished on the Friday and then I had to travel on Monday to Qatar.
I only had a couple of sessions in Qatar, I didn't have enough time to
do loads of fitness, I just tried to relax my body and tried to
recover.”
World No.7 Marwan booked his place in round two after rising to a routine 3-0 win over Hong Kong’s World No.41 Tsz Fung Yip.
Yip, who claimed a notable win over World No.8 Miguel Angel Rodriguez
in August’s Hong Kong Open, started brightly and went 3-0 ahead in the
opening game before ElShorbagy took control, coming through 11-7, 11-8,
11-6 in 27 minutes – and he will face Australian No.2 Ryan Cuskelly in
the next round.
“I was very happy, it was my first time playing Yip, he’s had a few
good wins and I had to watch a few of his matches to study him,” said
ElShorbagy.
“I had to be careful from the beginning and not give him any chances as
he would have taken them. I’m very happy to win in less than half an
hour. There are no rest days for us in the bottom half, so it’s perfect
for me against Cuskelly."
Cuskelly made history at this tournament last year after he became the
first player since 2001 to come through qualification and progress to
the last four of a World Series tournament - and he required five games
to see off World No.17 Max Lee.
Lee was irresistible early on as he swept to a one-game lead for the
loss of three points, but a tenacious Cuskelly refused to bow down to
the pressure as he battled back to go 2-1 ahead. The 29-year-old was
unable to convert a match ball though, and Lee forced a decider, only
to succumb to cramp as Cuskelly closed out a 3-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-13,
11-9 victory.
"I probably didn’t play the best but I tried to stay solid and he gave
me a few cheap ones in the end before he started cramping, so I was a
bit lucky," Cuskelly admitted.
"Overall, I’m happy with the win. I’ve had a couple of bad results, so
everything was going through my head. I could have lost it but I stayed
strong in the fifth and snuck it.”
Cuskelly will be joined in the next round by fellow Australian Cameron
Pilley, who defeated Nafiizwan Adnan in straight games, and Pilley will
face Cesar Salazar in round two after the Mexican beat Omar Abdel
Meguid.
England’s Adrian Waller overcame World No.34 Nicolas Mueller in the
day’s other fixture and he will take on Selby for a place in the
quarter-final stage.
Draw - Second Round: To be played Tuesday November 15
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v Leo Au (HKG)
James Willstrop (ENG) v [7] Simon Rösner (GER)
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)
[Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) v [4] Nick Matthew (ENG)
[3] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Zahed Mohamed (EGY)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
[8] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)
[Q] Adrian Waller (ENG) v Daryl Selby (ENG)
