Round-2 match recap from Squash Emcee Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Classic.
Since 2017, Andy Taylor has been the voice of the Qatar Classic Squash Championship. With his individual style and delivery, Andy writes and narrates each player’s introduction; highlighting career accomplishments, providing context for fans before each match. As tournament emcee, Andy also interviews the winners and hosts the trophy ceremony at the conclusion of the championship.
In addition to his role with the Qatar Squash Federation, Taylor also hosts Doha’s professional tennis events, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open and Qatar Total Open.
A voice acting veteran, Andy is best known as the Voice of the US Open in New York. There, he has spent the last 20-years shaping the sound of the tennis season’s final Grand Slam; enhancing the fan experience. Informing. Entertaining. Celebrating sport and its colorful cast of characters.
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Third meeting. Down 2-1, Kandra comes back to reach the Round of 16
Raphael Kandra -22- (GER) | Round-2 Emcee Introduction
Earlier this month in Philadelphia, this 30-year-old took the court for his 350th career match on the PSA World Tour, battling Peruvian Puma Diego Elias in the Round of 16 at the US Open. In fact, in just the past 3-years, he’s reached the Final-16 of 8 PSA Platinums; a impressive run that all began at the 2018 British Open – where as a qualifier, he defeated Nick Matthew, then Marwan Elshorbagy to reach his first Major Semifinal. Ranked as high was World #13, he now owns 14 PSA titles and is a 22-time Finalist on Tour. Back in Doha for his 6th Qatar Q-Terminals Classic – From Germany, please welcome 3-time German Nationals Champion, Raphael Kandra.
- R2 — W — Mahesh Mangaonkar -55- (IND) | 11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-4 (59m)
- R1 — W — Abdulrahman Al-Malki -126- (QAT) | Score: 11-2, 11-7, 11-5 (22m) | RECAP
EMCEE NOTEBOOK
- Earlier this month at the US Open, Kandra reached the Round of 16 at a PSA Platinum event for the 8th time
- Today, down 2-1, he came back to reach his 9th Platinum Round of 16 – setting up a dose of deja vu
- Last year here in Doha, he defeated Dimitri Steinmann and Saurav Ghosal, then fell to Marwan Elshorbagy – who he will face again tomorrow on the Glass Court
Mahesh Mangaonkar -55- (IND) | Round-2 Emcee Introduction
Through to Round-2 of a PSA Platinum event for the first time, this 27-year-old owns 8 PSA Challenger titles, is an Asian Games Team Champion, and has been ranked as high as World #44. Last month, he launched the new season by entering three Challengers – reaching the Semis in Madeira, the Quarters in Graz, then battled through to his 19th career Tour-level Final at the Bremer Schlüssel in Germany. No stranger to success here in Doha, he’s a 2-time Challenger Semifinalist on this court – and seven years ago, at just 20-years-old, won his first ever World Championship match right here in Qatar. From India, please welcome 2-time Indian Nationals Champion, Mahesh Mangaonkar.
- R2 — L — Raphael Kandra -22- (GER) | Score: 7-11, 11-7, 12-10, 9-11, 4-11 (59m)
- R1 — W — Alan Clyne -50- (SCO) | Score: 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-2 (48m) | RECAP
EMCEE NOTEBOOK
- One of the most talked about Mangaonkar matches last season was his 1st-Round clash with Mostafa Asal in December’s PSA World Tour Gold Black Ball Open. He was up 2-games to one on the future US Open champ, in a tremendous match in Cairo: 10-12, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 1-11 (82m)
- Mahesh cracked the PSA’s top-100 for the first time in 2013, and continued putting-in the work at the Challenger level. The following year, he reached five Finals, captured 2 titles; and by November, found himself ranked inside the top-50
- The hard work paid off — with a career-high ranking, the Indian decisively earned a spot in his first ever PSA World Championship. Here in Doha, thanks to the luck of the draw, Mangaonkar took out Kiwi qualifier Lance Beddoes in Round-1. That victory remains his only main-draw triumph at the sport’s biggest tournament, in six World Championship appearances
- Most importantly – by putting in the hard work, by creating opportunity for himself – Mahesh had the chance to face legend Mohamed Elshorbagy in Round-2. Though he lost in 30-minutes, the experience of the moment – and how he got there – is indelible
- It’s one of the reasons Mahesh entered three Challenger events to start the new season. Clearly – to give yourself a chance to grow and excel, you have to boost your ranking. That number is “access” to the top talents in the world
- The hard part? Transitioning to winning those Round-1 matches over top-40 talents at the Majors. Without those victories, it’s increasingly difficult to maintain a strong enough ranking to provide yourself opportunity
- Before the switch to the Platinum format – Mahesh never made it past qualifying at the Platinums or PSA World Championship. Today, he finally gained some Round-2 points at a Platinum, thanks to his win yesterday over Alan Clyne
- Everyone loves an underdog
► MORE EMCEE RECAPS FROM THE QATAR CLASSIC SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIP 2021
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QATAR SQUASH: 27 YEARS OF HIGHLIGHTS AND HISTORY
For nearly three decades, the Qatar Squash Federation has hosted the sport’s elite at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. Originally coined the Qatar International, Pakistan’s Jansher Khan captured the first five Doha titles from 1992 to 1996. Canada’s Jonathan Power then won back-to-back Doha titles over Scotland’s Peter Nichol; earning triumphs at the 1997 Qatar International and the 1998 World Championship.
Enter the Qatar Classic Squash Championship
After a two year absence, professional squash returned to Doha in 2001. Rebranded the Qatar Classic, Peter Nichol – now representing England – again reached back-to-back Doha Finals. This time, he captured the first two Qatar Classic titles over Australia’s David Palmer. England’s Lee Beachill and James Willstrop won the next two Qatar Classic titles, before Egypt began its outright Doha dominance.
In fact, since Ramy Ashour became the first Egyptian Doha champion at the 2006 Qatar Classic; the Arab nation has won 13 of the last 15 Doha titles, including three World Championships. Alexandria’s Mohamed Elshorbagy – the only 3-time Qatar Classic Champion – reached a record six consecutive finals on this court between 2012 and 2017. Most recently, Ali Farag won back-to-back Qatar Classic titles in 2018 and 2020. Unfortunately, the World #1 won’t be back in Doha this year to defend the title.
Professional Squash and COVID-19
Like every international sport, the recent global pandemic has created tremendous challenges for squash events worldwide. Due to COVID’s insidious spread, the 2019-20 season ended abruptly in March; immediately following Mohamed Elshorbagy’s victory at the 2020 Canary Wharf Classic.
Without fans, the sport launched its return six months later in Manchester – another Elshorbagy triumph. However, with global cases hitting a second surge, all events in the United Kingdom, United States and Asia were shuttered. The 2020-2021 season was in peril. At the time, as a U.S. resident, Andy Taylor made the difficult decision to suspend all international travel. Reluctantly, he stepped away from his role as emcee at the 2020 Qatar Classic.
Saviors. The Qatar Squash Federation and CIB’s CEO Hussein Abaza of Egypt
Over the next 10-months, Qatar and Egypt were the only two nations to host PSA Platinum events. Without the U.S. Open. Hong Kong Open. New York’s Tournament of Champions. The Windy City Open. And British Open — The sport needed bold and determined intervention.
Cautiously, the QSF moved forward with the Qatar Classic, providing a COVID safe bubble for players and crew. Meanwhile, Egypt’s Hussein Abaza went above and beyond. Remarkably, CIB’s CEO spearheaded two PSA World Tour Finals, the Egyptian Open, two Black Ball Opens and El Gouna International. From September to June, he funded six expensive, top-tier PSA events for both the men’s and women’s tours. Egypt became the hub of the sport – a safe place to compete while vaccinations took hold; while the world recovered.
Thankfully, since July, much of the globe has slowly opened back up. Chicago hosted the World Championships. Hull welcomed the sport’s elite for the British Open. Last month, it was only fitting that the 2021-22 season began in front of the pyramids at Giza. True to form, Egyptian rivals Ali Farag and Mohamed Elshorbagy headlined the event; delivering an exceptional 5-game Final, where Farag lifted his 9th Platinum trophy.
A Sport Back on Track, thanks to human compassion and ingenuity
After September’s Egyptian Open, the U.S. swing was also a tremendous success. From San Francisco to the US Open’s immaculate new Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia; fans responsibly returned, recently tested or fully vaccinated. All starved to once again see the best in the world compete inside the glass.
Now, squash returns to the Arab Gulf for the 17th Qatar Classic Squash Championship.
Thankfully, as global vaccinations continue their ascent, the new squash season is beginning to follow a familiar path. While the past 19-months have been dark, spotlighting the reality of human fragility; it has also been an epoch defined by compassion, resilience and hope. Squash, as a sport and lifestyle, embodies these traits.
When we choose to quiet the noise, steel our determination, and commit to selflessly work together toward collective good; ultimately toward survival — the darkness is no match for our blinding ingenuity.
No, the fight isn’t over. But we’ve hit some astonishing nicks, and continue to edge closer toward “match ball.”
