Fathi Floors Favourite Kemp In London
by Howard Harding
24 November 2012 - Unseeded Egyptian teenager Karim Ali Fathi produced the shock of the tournament when he ousted top-seeded Englishman Jonathan Kemp in the London Open to claim a place in the semi-finals of the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 squash event in its fifth year at Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club in the England capital.
Expected to make the final for the third time in the last four years, world No29 Kemp - the 2009 champion - was matched point for point by the 19-year-old from Cairo who was making his maiden appearance in the event.
Based in the UK and coached by former England international Phil Whitlock, Ali Fathi showed remarkable maturity to see off the Ipswich-based 29-year-old 11-9, 11-6, 11-8.
The young Egyptian, ranked 70 in the world, will now face a further home player after Eddie Charlton, the world No82 from Nottingham, beat qualifier and fellow Englishman Joel Hinds 11-9, 11-4, 12-10.
But there will be a qualifier in the other semi-final after Pakistan's Nasir Iqbal maintained his giant-killing run in the event to put out England's No3 seed Robbie Temple 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8.
The 18-year-old from Peshawar will line up against England's Chris Ryder. Now the only seed left in the event, second seed Ryder - the world No48 from Leamington Spa - beat Scottish qualifier Greg Lobban 11-9, 11-4, 20-18.
RESULTS: PSA Challenger 10 London Open, London, England
Quarter-finals:
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt [1] Jonathan Kemp (ENG) 11-9, 11-6, 11-8
Eddie Charlton (ENG) bt [Q] Joel Hinds (ENG) 11-9, 11-4, 12-10
[Q] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) bt [3] Robbie Temple (ENG) 11-8, 8-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8
[2] Chris Ryder (ENG) bt [Q] Greg Lobban (SCO) 11-9, 11-4, 20-18
Semi-final line-up:
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) v Eddie Charlton (ENG)
[2] Chris Ryder (ENG) v [Q] Nasir Iqbal (PAK)
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