Tom Richards -30- (ENG) def Ryan Cuskelly -16- (AUS)
Match recap from Squash Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Classic.
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Round-2 Final: 5-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (58m)
Huge win for Surrey’s Tom Richards. For the first time since his PSA Tour debut in 2005, with today’s 58-minute upset of Ryan Cuskelly — he advanced to the Round of 16 at a Platinum-level event for the very first time.
Today’s match was Tom and Ryan’s 5th career meeting, and first in nearly three years. Richards has won all five of their matches. Previous encounters:
► Feb 2016 – Squash Columbia Open (R1) – Tom Richards | Score: 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 (52m)
► Mar 2015 – Windy City Open (Qualifying) – Tom Richards | Score: 11-9, 11-9, 11-4 (45m)
► Aug 2012 – Australian Open (R2) – Tom Richards | Score: 11-7, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4 (63m)
► Aug 2011 – Australian Open (R1) – Tom Richards | Score: 11-9, 11-8, 11-5 (49m)
Each player’s announcer introduction for today’s Round-2 match…
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Tom Richards -30- (ENG)
At 32-years-old, he owns 6 PSA titles, has reached 14 career Finals, and has been ranked as high as #12 in the World. He comes into this year’s Qatar Classic after a Quarterfinal run at the St. George’s Hill Classic, where he earned his first career victories over Spain’s Borja Golan and World #12 Omar Mossad. Last season, he reached 4 Finals, captured 2 PSA titles, kept his unbeaten streak alive at the European Team Championship, and returns to Doha ranked inside the PSA’s top-30 for the first time since 2016. Competing in his 8th Qatar Classic Squash Championship, yesterday he defeated Egypt’s Mohamed Reda to reach the 2nd-Round here in Doha for the third time. From England, please welcome the World #30 – Tom Richards.
▲ R1 — def Mohamed Reda -52- (EGY) | Score: 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 (60m) | RECAP
Ryan Cuskelly -16- (AUS)
At 31-years-old, he comes into this year’s Qatar Classic with momentum. Last week, he captured his 16th career PSA title at the Chicago Open, earning all four match-victories without losing a single game. Ranked as high as #12 in the World – last season, he earned one of biggest wins of his career, upsetting Mohamed ElShorbagy at the Tournament of Champions to reach his 3rd career Platinum-level Quarterfinal. Three weeks later, he was a Finalist at the Canada Cup in Toronto, and has now appeared in 25 career championship matches. At the 2015 Qatar Classic – as a Qualifier – he enjoyed his best PSA Platinum run to date – defeating two top-10 opponents to reach the Semifinals. Competing in his 8th Qatar Classic Squash Championship – From Australia, please welcome 2015 Semifinalist and the #16 Player in the World – Ryan Cuskelly.
▲ R1 — Bye
