[3] Tarek Momen -04- (EGY) def Nicolas Müller -17- (SUI)
Match recap from Squash Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Classic.
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Round-2 Final: 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 (27m)
Tarek Momen is back in the zone. Last year in Doha, he reached his first career Platinum-level Final, defeating Simon Rösner to reach the championship match. Last week in Weybridge, he captured his first PSA title in 4-years at the St. George’s Hill Classic.
Both Tarek and the surging Swiss Nicolas Müller were rested for today’s battle. Thanks to their rankings, neither had to endure a 1st-Round match. Considering their previous encounters, this announcer was expecting a deciding-game barn-burner.
► Mar 16 – Windy City Open (R1) – Tarek Momen | Score: 12-14, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9 (77m)
► Mar 15 – Windy City Open (R2) – Tarek Momen | Score: 11-6, 10-12, 11-7, 11-8 (50m)
► Nov 13 – World Championship (R2) – Tarek Momen | Score: 5-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-3 (43m)
► Oct 12 – US Open (R1) – Tarek Momen | Score: 5-11, 11-7, 10-12, 12-10, 11-6 (70m)
► Nov 11 – Hong Kong Open (R1) – Tarek Momen | Score: 15-17, 11-4, 11-8, 11-7 (48m)
Instead, the World #4 marched through 3-games in just under 30-minutes, conserving energy he’ll need for tomorrow’s Round of 16 clash with James Willstrop. The two met earlier this month in Round-2 of the US Open, where Momen won in just 34-minutes. But keep in mind, their first career meeting came here at the Qatar Classic 9-years-ago. Willstrop dominated.
► Nov 2009 – Qatar Classic (R2) – Willstrop def Momen | Score: 11-5, 11-7, 11-0 (26m)
Each player’s announcer introduction for today’s Round-2 match…
[divider style=”solid” color=”#cccccc” opacity=”0.5″ placement=”equal”]
[3] Tarek Momen -04- (EGY)
After going 4-years without lifting a trophy, this 30-year-old just captured his 5th career PSA title at the St. George’s Hill Classic, winning the title in a thrilling, deciding-game victory over World #2 Ali Farag.
He’s enjoyed some of the biggest moments of his career – right here – on THIS Glass Court in Doha. In 2011, he earned his first career victory over the legend Nick Matthew, upsetting the 2009 Champion in just 3-games. Last year, he did it again. With a Quarterfinal win over Matthew, and a Semifinal victory over Simon Rösner, he reached the championship match of a Platinum-level event for the very first time. It was the beginning of a remarkable season that saw him reach his second Platinum Final at the Tournament of Champions, and qualify for the PSA World Tour Finals for the first time in 4-years. He cracked the PSA’s top-5 for the first time, and ended the season with a career-high ranking of World #4.
Competing in his 11th Qatar Classic Squash Championship – From Egypt, please welcome 2017 Finalist and the #4 Player in the World – Tarek “The Viper” Momen.
▲ R1 — Bye
Nicolas Müller -17- (SUI)
At 29-years-old, this 11-time Swiss National Champion owns 9 PSA Tour titles and returns to Qatar with a career-high ranking of World #17. Seven years ago, he became a Platinum-level Quarterfinalist for the first time on this very court; and shortly after his 1st-Round Doha win at the 2014 World Championship, he reached his current career-best ranking for the first time. Last season, he earned the biggest win of his career at the Tournament of Champions in New York, defeating World #4 and defending champion Karim Abdel Gawad to reach the Quarters of a Platinum-level event for the 3rd-time. And a month later, competed in his 14th Tour-level Final at the Indian Open in Mumbai. Making his 8th Qatar Classic Squash Championship appearance – From Switzerland, please welcome the #17 Player in the World, Nicolas Müller.
▲ R1 — Bye
