Photo: Marius Borning, @marius.borning
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 ExonMobil Open and the Qatar Total Open . . . along with professional padel’s Ooredoo Qatar Major.
A voice acting veteran, Andy is best known as the Voice of the US Open in New York. There, he has spent nearly 25-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.
DIEGO ELIAS CLAIMS SECOND DOHA TITLE, NOUR ELSHERBINI COMPLETES MAJOR TROPHY COLLECTION
The second Platinum event of the newly structured, rebranded PSA Squash Tour — in 2024, the Qatar Classic returned to late October, allowing Andy Taylor to once again serve as tournament emcee. With the sport recently added to the Olympic roster for the LA 2028 Summer Olympics, Platinum events like the Qatar Classic became 32-player draws (no qualifying, no 1st-Round Byes) . . . meanwhile two events, the Egyptian and British Opens, were elevated to Diamond status (3-rounds of qualifying plus 1st-Round BYEs for the top-16 talents).
At the 2024 QATAR CLASSIC, on the women’s side, Nour ElSherbini finally completed her collection of Major trophies. Before her triumph, Doha remained the only Major title she hadn’t won. In the championship match, she overcame World #2 Nouran Gohar in a breathtaking Final, where ElSherbini came-back from 2-games down to capture the title — a 96-minute battle where Gohar played with a broken nose in the deciding game.
Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Diego Elias dominated, dropping only a single game the entire tournament – defeating Tarek Momen in the Quarters, World #1 Ali Farag in the Semifinals, and World #2 Mostafa Asal in the Final.
QATAR SQUASH: 32 YEARS OF HIGHLIGHTS AND HISTORY
For over 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 Peter Nichol . . . earning triumphs at the 1997 Qatar International and the 1998 World Championship.
Enter the Qatar Classic Squash Championship (Men)
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 14 of the last 19 Doha titles, including three World Championships. Mohamed Elshorbagy – the only 4-time Qatar Classic Champion – reached a record six consecutive finals on this court (2012-2017) while representing Egypt. In 2022, he captured his 4th title while representing England, and remains the only player – male or female – to reach seven Doha Finals.
Qatar Classic Squash Championship (Women)
The sport’s elite female talent made their first Doha appearance in 2001, when Australia’s Sarah Fitz-Gerald captured the first women’s Qatar Classic title. A year later, she backed-up the triumph by capturing the World Championship in Doha.
Between 2006 and 2011, legend Nicol David owned Doha’s notoriously frigid glass court, earning five Qatar Classic titles in 6-years. Following a 3-season hiatus, top English talent Laura Massaro captured the 2015 title over rising star, 20-year-old Nour ElSherbini . . . who would quickly go-on to become one of the greatest talents in squash history. But unfortunately, the women wouldn’t return to Doha for another 8-years.
Finally, in 2023, the Qatar Classic returned as a mixed event – and once again, Nour ElSherbini reached the Final . . . where she fell to Hania El Hammamy in a 5-game, 84-minute classic. Determined to capture the only Major title she had yet to win — in 2024 (down 2-games to none), ElSherbini outlasted Nouran Gohar in a 96-minute thriller to claim the title and complete her Major trophy collection.
