Host Andy Taylor | The Voice of the Qatar Classic | Photo: Steve Cubbins
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George Parker -49- (ENG) def Campbell Grayson -41- (NZL)
Match recap from Squash Host Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Classic.
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Round-1 Final: 12-10, 11-5, 5-11, 11-8 (68m)
Whether or not you like his irreverent and aggressive style, there’s no denying that Leicester’s George Parker is on the climb. Sure, he’s been fined and suspended for smashing racquets – but he competes. And competes to win.
Coming off his best Platinum run to date at the US Open – where he earned a pair of 5-game victories over Mazen Hesham and Tsz Fung Yip – the 22-year-old is through to Round-2 in Qatar Classic debut, defeating New Zealand’s Campbell Grayson in just over an hour.
This was the first meeting between these two players.
Each player’s host introduction for today’s Round-1 match…
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George Parker -49- (ENG)
At just 22-years-old, he owns 7 PSA titles and comes into Doha with a career-high ranking of World #49. Last season, he went on a tear – earning 3-titles in 4-Finals between January and April. By season’s end, he’d jumped 24-spots in the rankings – then picked up the new season right where he left off – reaching the title match in his European Championship debut. Earlier this month at the US Open, he earned his first two Platinum main-draw victories, reaching the Final-16 of a Platinum-level event for the very first time. Making his Qatar Classic and Doha debut – From England, please welcome the #49 Player in the World, George Parker
Parker’s Round-3 Platinum run at the US Open was a break-through performance:
▲ R3: lost [4] Simon Rösner -05- (GER) 6-11, 9-11, 12-10, 3-11 (67m)
▲ R2: def Tsz Fung Yip -27- (HKG) 7-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-6, 13-11 (70m)
▲ R1: def Mazen Hesham -35- (EGY) 8-11, 11-3, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5 (65m)
Campbell Grayson -41- (NZL)
At 32-years-old, this 2-time New Zealand National Champion owns 12 PSA Tour titles – and last April, climbed to a career-high ranking of World #32, after reaching his 20th career Tour-level Final at the Manitoba Open. A 4-time Semifinalist last season, he’s reached the title match of the New Zealand National Championship in 9 consecutive appearances, and returns to Doha in determined pursuit of his second career PSA Platinum-level match victory. Competing in his 6th Qatar Classic Squash Championship – From New Zealand – please welcome the #41 Player in the World, Campbell Grayson.
▲ TOUGH FACT: The Platinum events haven’t been kind to Grayson. The 2018 Qatar Classic was Campbell’s 54th career Platinum-level tournament. Since 2008, he’s had to mostly scrap through qualifying to reach the main draw. Out of 19 career Platinum 1st-Round matches, he’s won only one: A victory over Nicolas Müller at the 2013 US Open.
