Sports Announcer Andy Taylor | The Voice of the Qatar Classic | Photo: Steve Cubbins
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Cameron Pilley -23- (AUS) def Abdulrahman Al-Malki -250- (QAT)
Match recap from Sports Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Classic.
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Round-1 Final: 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (26m)
Cameron Pilley is a 2-time Qatar Classic Quarterfinalist. 4-years-ago, he reached the Quarters of the World Championships on this court. A long career of lunging with a lanky frame has taken a toll on his ankles, and he comes into his 12th Qatar Classic on the heels of off-season surgery.
Qatari squash veteran Abdulrahman Al-Malki tested Pilley’s mobility during today’s 1st-Rounder, but Cameron still found a way to win in under 30-minutes. This was the first meeting between these two players.
Here’s a look at each player’s introduction for today’s Round-1 match…
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Cameron Pilley -23- (AUS)
This ball crushing, 2-time Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist is back on-court after off-season ankle-surgery in June. A 29-time Finalist on Tour, he owns 13 PSA titles and has been ranked as high as #11 in the World. In the 2015-16 season, he reached his first Platinum-level Final at the Hong Kong Open, and qualified for the PSA World Tour Finals for the first time. He defeated Omar Mosaad, Simon Rösner and Mohamed ElShorbagy to reach the championship match in his Dubai debut. A Quarterfinalist here in 2011 and 2016, he is competing in his 13th Qatar Classic. From Australia, please welcome Cameron “Pistol” Pilley.
Abdulrahman Al-Malki -250- (QAT)
A Finalist at the 2013 Qatar National Championship, this 30-year-old Doha Squash Veteran is competing his 10th Qatar Classic Squash Championship. He’s faced the biggest names in the sport on this court, including Ramy Ashour, Peter Barker and Karim Abdel Gawad – and is competing in the main-draw for the third time. Last month at the Asian Games Team Championship, his victory over Thailand helped lift Qatar to a 4th place finish in its pool of six nations. A Wild Card at this year’s Qatar Classic – From Doha, please welcome Abdulrahman Al-Malki.
