Emcee Andy Taylor | The Voice of the Qatar Classic | Photo: Steve Cubbins
Leo Au -22- (HKG) def Ben Coleman -43- (ENG)
Match recap from Emcee Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Classic.
Round-1 Final: 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-3 (53m)
Leo Au has now won 23 of his last 28 matches. His 2018-19 campaign started early, at the Hong Kong Nationals in June – where he captured the title for a 5th time. After dropping game-1 in his first career clash with Ben Coleman, Au stormed-back to reach Round-2 of a Platinum-level PSA event for the 10th time.
Each player’s emcee introduction for today’s Round-1 match…
Leo Au -22- (HKG)
At 28-years-old, he now owns 10 PSA titles, and has been on an absolute tear since his season began in July. He started the new season by capturing his 5th Hong Kong Nationals title, climbed to a career-high ranking of World #20, then reached the Semifinals of the Malaysian Open. But he wasn’t done. At the Asian Games in Jakarta, he won both individual Gold and Team Silver, then battled-through to the championship matches of both the Hong Kong FC International and the CAS International in Islamabad. He’s played 27 matches already this season, and has won 22 of them. Now a 19-time Finalist on Tour, he’s looking to reach the 2nd-Round here in Doha for the 3rd-time. Competing in his 6th Qatar Classic Squash Championship – From Hong Kong, please welcome the #22 Player in the World, Leo Au.
Ben Coleman -43- (ENG)
This 27-year-old returns to Doha with a career-high ranking of #43 in the World. Last season, he captured his 9th PSA title in Niort, reached his 17th career Final at the Pittsburg Open, and broke back into the PSA top-50 for the first time since 2016. A Quarterfinalist in last November’s Qatar Circuit-4 Championship, he has fond memories of this court – In 2014, he earned his first win at the PSA World Championship here in Doha, winning his qualifying match to reach the main draw. Competing in his 3rd Qatar Classic Squash Championship, he’s on the hunt for his first career main-draw victory at a PSA Platinum-level event – From England, please welcome World #43, Ben Coleman
This was Ben’s 300th career match on the PSA World Tour
Tough start to the 2018-19 season. Ben Coleman still has a career-high rank of World #43.
His results so far this season:
Oct-2018: Qatar Classic – R1 loss to Leo Au -22- (HKG) | Score: 11-8, 9-11, 6-11, 3-11 (53m)
Oct-2018: St. George’s Hill Classic – R1 loss to Daryl Selby -21- (ENG) | Score: 9-11, 2-11, 11-9, 8-11 (64m)
Oct-2018: US Open – R1 loss to Tom Richards -30- (ENG) | Score: 8-11, 13-15, 11-9, 9-11 (69m)
Sep-2018: China Open – R1 loss to Alan Clyne -36- (SCO) | Score: 9-11, 10-12, 6-11 (50m)
