Sports Bulletin Report
Doha (Qatar):-Qatar’s Abdulla Al Tamimi stunned New Zealand’s Paul Coll to win a 94-minute epic 3-2 and reach the last sixteen in the Qatar Classic Squash Tournament at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Monday.
“That’s by farthe result of my career,” said Al Tamimi. “I’ve been very close before against the top guys. I always have a lead, I managed to choke it then. I tried not to think about it at all. I was cramping from game three to the fifth in my fingers, I tried not to show it to Paul. I was waiting for the opportunities to go for the shots and when it’s there, that’s the way to beat Paul. I can’t be negative, I had to play my game at the right time and I’m happy with the win.”
Al Tamimi will have a rest day before playing England’s George Parker, who beat the USA’s Todd Harrity, in the next round. Elsewhere, Victor Crouin continued his terrific start to the season with a 3-1 win over No.7 seed Joel Makin to reach the third round of the Qatar Classic in his first season as a full-time professional
“I came in and just wanted to win one game. “I just wanted to win the game and I believed that I could win the match. After winning the first game I knew I could go and get the win. I’m really happy about that.”
Crouin will play England’s Patrick Rooney for a place in the quarter-finals after Rooney downed Nathan Lake 3-0 in an all-English affair.
Also through to the next round is top seed Ali Farag, who received a walkover after an injury to Cesar Salazar, and defending champion Diego Elias, who overcame a spirited performance from India’s Saurav Ghosal to progress.
“I won my biggest title here last year and played one of my best matches of my career [in last year’s final against Coll]. I think I’ve always played great here. I guess I just have to get used to the court again and I’ll be ok,” Elias said.
