Hamilton makes most of Bottas misfortune to secure record for Mercedes at Imola MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2020 PAGE 14 QATAR CLASSIC SQUASH 2020 Al Tamimi holds off Rooney in exciting Tuesday order of play start 11.00hrs Gregoire Marche (Fra) v Youssef Ibrahim (Egy) 11.45 Saurav Ghosal (Ind) v Raphael Kandra (Ger) 13.30 Youssef Ibrahim (Egy) v Cesar Salazar (Mex) 14.15 Omar Mosaad (Egy) v Borja Golan (Esp) 16.00 [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (Egy) v [wc] Gregory Gaultier (Fra) 16.45 [4] Paul Coll (Nzl) v Baptiste Masotti (Fra) 18.30 [7] Simon Rosner (Ger) v Fares Dessouky (Egy) 19.15 [1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (Egy) v George Parker (Eng) Qatar’s Abdulla Al Tamimi in action against England’s Patrick Rooney during the opening round of Qatar Classic 2020 squash tournament at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex on Sunday. Gaultier battles to beat Pajares; El Sherbini eases past Amjad AGENCIES opponent away from the ’T’, Results got through but there were points in a row, each winner DOHA whereas Al Tamimi is one of some upsets along the way being greeted by a cry of tri- the most unpredictable players First Round: Mohamed ElSherbini (Egy) 3-0 [wc] Syed Azlan Amjad (Qat) Lucas Serme (Fra) 3-1 Todd Harrity (USA) 11-5, 12-14, 11-4, 14-12 (64m) still,” said Serme. umph from the 37-year-old. HOME favourite Abdulla on the men’s tour and can hit 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 (31m) Youssef Soliman (Egy) 3-0 Mazen Gamal (Egy) 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 (41m) “I think it’s possible for He will take on World No.6 Mohd Al Tamimi earned his winners from all over the court. Baptiste Masotti (Fra) 3-0 Ramit Tandon (Ind) 11-6, 11-6, 11-2 (24m) Abdulla Al Tamimi (Qat) 3-2 Patrick Rooney (Eng) 10-12, 11-3, 11-8, 8-11, some surprises.” ElShorbagy for the first time place in the last 32 of the 2020 That unpredictability George Parker (Eng) 3-2 Victor Crouin (Fra) 9-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-6, 11-9 (66m) 11-3 (54m) Former World No.1 Greg- since 2017. Qatar Classic after edging an caused Rooney real problems Youssef Ibrahim (Egy) 3-1 Nicolas Mueller (Sui) 11-7, 4-11, 11-8, 11-7 (41m); Tom Richards (Eng) 3-0 Nathan Lake (Eng) 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 (33m) ory Gaultier came through “I’m very thankful to the Raphael Kandra (Ger) 3-1 Dimitri Steinmann (Sui) 5-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-2 (43m) Shahjahan Khan (USA) 3-1 Vikram Malhotra (Ind) 11-9, 3-11, 11-4, 11-3 (35m) exciting five-game battle with as he conceded the third but Cesar Salazar (Mex) 3-0 Auguste Dussourd (Fra) 11-5, 11-9, 11-6 (28m) Eain Yow Ng (Mas) 3-1 Karim El Hammamy (Egy) 8-11, 11-2, 11-6, 11-5 (46m) a four-game battle against Qatar Squash Federation for England’s Patrick Rooney on brought the structure back (WC) Gregory Gaultier (Fra) 3-1 Iker Pajares (Esp) 10-12, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8 (57m) Richie Fallows (Eng) 3-0 Tayyab Aslam (Pak) 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 (41m) Spain’s Iker Pajares Berna- giving me the opportunity to the opening day of Qatar Clas- into the match in the fourth to Borja Golan (Esp) 3-0 Benjamin Aubert (Fra) 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 (23m) Declan James (Eng) 3-0 Abdulrahman al-Malki (QAT) 11-1, 11-8, 11-1 (24m). beu to book a mouthwatering get the wildcard to play,” said sic Squash 2020 at the Khalifa set up a decider. second round fixture with CIB Gaultier, the 2011 Qatar Clas- International Tennis & Squash However, it was all about Al I had to do two weeks quaran- the early stages of the match PSA World Tour Finals winner sic champion. Complex on Sunday. Tamimi in the fifth as he pulled tine, so all that work went for and had Harrity on strings as Marwan ElShorbagy. “After being out for 14 Al Tamimi is the highest Rooney from pillar to post and nothing. I think its [the errors] he dropped just five points in Gaultier has been handed months, my ranking went from ranked Qatari squash player of he wrapped up a 10-12, 11-3, just from a lack of matches and I’m very thankful to the the first game. a wildcard spot for this tour- No.1 to No.600, so I’m very all time and he often saves his 11-8, 8-11, 11-3 in 54 minutes I’m really glad I got through Harrity did brilliantly to nament and he came back grateful to them for giving me best performances for home to earn his second round spot this one. I’m sure against Diego Qatar Squash Federation for break Serme’s rhythm in the from a game down to complete the opportunity to play other- soil, however a sloppy start against Peru’s Diego Elias. I’ll be a lot sharper. giving me the opportunity to second though as he ramped a 10-12, 11-3, 11-9, 11-8 victory wise I wouldn’t have been able saw the World No.30 make “It’s tough playing here at “We’re really good friends get the wildcard to play. the pace right up and he was in 57 minutes. to take part in this event. seven unforced errors to hand home,” Al Tamimi said. and I’m really looking forward rewarded with victory on the Pajares did come back Earlier, Egypt’s Mohamed his opponent a one-game lead. “I need to raise my level to it. I think it’s going to be a Former World No.1 Gregory tie-break to draw level. from three game balls down ElSherbini marked his first The errors then flowed always, I just want to make hell of a match and I’m sure Gaultier of France But the 30-year-old couldn’t to take the opening game and appearance since March with from the Englishman’s racket the whole country proud. I it’s going to be fair and enter- keep that up as he dropped that fighting spirit was on dis- a 3-0 victory over Qatari wild- in the second as Al Tamimi had some great performances taining for everybody. est ranked American man, off in the third, which allowed play throughout the match as card Syed Azlan Amjad in the powered into a 9-0 lead and he last year, so I had a lot of pres- “It’s always a good week Todd Harrity. Serme to re-establish his lead. he made Gaultier work hard first match of the 2020 Qatar converted to draw level. sure on me coming into this here, it’s one of the best tour- Harrity, the World No.58, And the French player held his for every single point. Classic to take place on the The match made for cap- first round, especially with naments on tour, if not the will look back with regret on nerve in the crucial stages to The Spaniard went in short glass court. tivating viewing with a clear the lockdown we’ve been hav- best, because of the organisa- a third game that saw him complete a win which will see often, but Gaultier soaked up ElSherbini, making his difference in style between the ing because of COVID-19. I tion and all the history of the squander three game balls him play England’s Tom Rich- the pressure before unleash- Qatar Classic debut, was in two players. Rooney is coached haven’t had any matches since game here in Doha.” in an attempt to level up the ards in the next round. ing winners of his own. A cru- control for the majority of the by the renowned Malcolm Will- February in Chicago. Also booking a place in the scores, with Serme ultimately “We haven’t had many cial period in the match saw match as he hit consistent lines strop and favours a methodical “I only played one match second round was French- taking the match by an 11-5, tournament since March, Pajares lead 9-6 in the third and punished his opponent at style of play which sees him against Tarek (Momen) in Man- man Lucas Serme courtesy of 12-14, 11-4, 14-12 scoreline. we’ve now had a couple of big game only to see Gaultier the front of the court to march construct rallies to draw his chester and when I came back a 3-1 victory against the high- Serme dominated the ’T’ in tournaments and the big guys overturn that deficit with five to 11-6, 11-8, 11-9 victory. Sanchez names Qatar squad for Nov friendlies Quick read AGENCIES Rublev wins fifth ATP title of season to book Tour Finals spot DOHA VIENNA: Andrey Rublev eased to victory over Lorenzo Sonego on Sunday in the Vienna final to win his fifthA TP QATAR coach Felix Sanchez on title of the season and secure a spot at the Tour Finals in Saturday announced a squad London. The Russian cruised to a 6-4, 6-4 win in under an of 27 players ahead of the two hour and a quarter and has won more ATP tournaments this international friendlies against season than any other player. He will make his debut at the Costa Rica and Korea Republic season-ending Tour Finals, which start on November 15, be- on Nov.