[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy -01- (EGY) def Adrian Waller -37- (ENG)
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Round-of-16 Final: 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 (31m)
Match recap from Squash Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Classic.
11 days ago in Weybridge, World #1 Mohamed Elshorbagy lost 3 tiebreak games to Joel Makin in the Quarterfinals of the St. George’s Hill Classic. After today’s 31-minute victory over Adrian Waller, the Beast of Alexandria said the Makin loss was a “necessary slap in the face.” A wake-up call.
While Elshorbagy is aware he can’t win every single match, he recognizes the significance of putting losses like that in perspective. The positive side – he’s rested for the Qatar Classic and feels fresh moving-forward in the draw, on the hunt for his 19th Platinum title.
His record in Doha is exemplary. Since 2012, he’s reached 6 successive Finals on this court, capturing 3 of the last 4 Qatar Classic titles. That is insane.
▲ 2017 – Qatar Classic Champion – defeated Tarek Momen in the championship match
▲ 2016 – Qatar Classic Finalist – fell to Karim Abdel Gawad in the championship match
▲ 2015 – Qatar Classic Champion – defeated Gregory Gaultier in the championship match
▲ 2014 – World Championship Finalist – fell to Ramy AShour in the championship match
▲ 2013 – Qatar Classic Champion – defeated Nick Matthew in the championship match
▲ 2012 – World Championship Finalist – fell to Ramy Ashour in the championship match
Announcer Corner | Mohamed Elshorbagy still undefeated against Adrian Waller
This was the 8th meeting between these two players. Mohamed ElShorbagy has won all of their previous matches. They first met 10-years-ago in the Semifinals of the British Junior Open. Their last meeting came nearly 3-years-ago in the 1st-Round of the Motor City Open. In Round-1 of the 2013 World Championship, they played an epic match – battling for 73-minutes before ElShorbagy emerged the victor in the 5th and deciding game.
► Jan 2016 – Motor City Open (R1) – Mohamed Elshorbagy | Score: 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-8 (55m)
► Jan 2016 – Tournament of Champions (R1) – Mohamed Elshorbagy | Score: 11-5, 11-8, 11-2 (30m)
► Oct 2015 – English Premier League – Mohamed Elshorbagy | Score: 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7 (46m) | Non PSA
► Oct 2014 – US Open (QF) – Mohamed Elshorbagy | Score: 18-16, 11-8, 11-9 (51m)
► Nov 2013 – World Championship (R1) – Mohamed Elshorbagy | Score: 11-6, 6-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-7 (74m)
► Mar 2013 – Canary Wharf Classic (R1) – Mohamed Elshorbagy | Score: 11-7, 11-13, 11-5, 11-6 (57m)
► Jan 2008 – British Junior U19 Open (SF) – Mohamed Elshorbagy | Score: 9-5, 9-3, 10-8 (50m) | Non PSA
Each player’s announcer introduction for today’s Round of 16 match…
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[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy -01- (EGY)
He is the defending and 3-time Qatar Classic Champion. Last year on this court, he reached his 6th successive championship match in Doha – eclipsing legend Jansher Khan’s record of five consecutive Finals between 1992 and ’96. The World #1, he has held the sport’s top-ranking for 3-years combined – more than any other active player – and earlier this month, captured his 18th career Platinum-level title at the US Open. One of only nine men in squash history to win the year-end PSA World Tour Finals more than once, he now owns a grand total of 32 PSA titles, and has reached 52 career championship matches. Competing in his 9th Qatar Classic Squash Championship – From Egypt, please welcome the reigning World Champion, PSA World Tour Finals Champion, and the #1 Player in the World – The Beast of Alexandria – Mohamed ElShorbagy.
▲ R2 — def Tsz Fung Yip -27- (HKG) | Score: 11-3, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9 (34m) | RECAP
▲ R1 — Bye
Announcer Corner | ELSHORBAGY IS #5 ON THE ALL-TIME LIST OF WORLD #1’S:
- Janshir Khan (PAK) — 97-months — Played Feb-87 to Dec-98 / 11-year career
- Jahangir Khan (PAK) — 94-months — Apr-80 to Nov-93 / 13-year career
- Peter Nicol (ENG) — 60-months — Jan-92 to Oct-06 / 14-year career
- Geoff Hunt (AUS) — 59-months — Jan-75 to Mar-82 / 7-year career, nearly 5 spent as World #1
- Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) — 36-months — Aug-06 to Present / 12-year career continues
Adrian Waller -37- (ENG)
Making his Round of 16 debut here in Doha; on Sunday, this 28-year-old southpaw faced World #12 Omar Mosaad for the first time, defeating the Hammer of Thor in just 22-minutes, allowing only 7-points the entire match. Last season, he won his 6th PSA Tour title in Amsterdam, captured Doubles Silver at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and finished the season by reaching his 26th career PSA Tour Semifinal at the Tring Open. Ranked as high as World #24, he is a 12-time Finalist on Tour, is a 2-time Semifinalist at the British National Championship, and earned his best Platinum-level run at the 2014 US Open, where he reached the Quarterfinals. Competing in his 5th Qatar Classic Squash Championship – From England, please welcome Adrian Waller.
▲ R2 — def Omar Mosaad -12- (EGY) | Score: 11-0, 11-2, 11-5 (22m) | RECAP
▲ R1 — def Alan Clyne -36- (SCO) | Score: 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 (38m) | RECAP
