[3] Tarek Momen -04- (EGY) def James Willstrop -18- (ENG)
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Round-of-16 Final: 7-11, 11-0, 11-1, 11-7 (39m)
Match recap from Squash Announcer Andy Taylor, Qatar Classic Stadium Announcer.
Last year here in Doha, Tarek Momen 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.
► Oct 2018 – St. George’s Hill Classic (F) – Tarek Momen def Ali Farag | Score: 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9 (87m)
Today, in his 15th career meeting with James Willstrop – Momen lost the first game, then shut-out the former World #1 in game-2, allowing only 8 additional points in a 39-minute, dominant victory.
Before today, the 2005 Champion and 2011 Finalist had never been “blanked” on this court. Though over the years, Willstrop had won two love-games over opponents – most recently against Chris Simpson in 2016’s 1st-Round. The first love game? That came during a 3-game, 26-minute defeat of Tarek Momen in 2009’s Round-2. Payback.
Announcer Corner | A look at Momen and Willstrop’s match history
► Oct 2018 – US Open (R2) – Tarek Momen | Score: 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 (34m)
► Aug 2018 – Bellevue International – Tarek Momen | Score: 4-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-5 | Non PSA
► Aug 2018 – Bellevue International – Tarek Momen | Score: 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 | Non PSA
► Mar 2018 – Canary Wharf Classic (QF) – Tarek Momen | Score: 11-5, 9-11, 11-7 (46m)
► Dec 2016 – St. George’s Hill Classic (SF) – Tarek Momen | Score: 11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (55m)
► Aug 2016 – Hong Kong Open (R2) – James Willstrop | Score: 5-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-7 (59m)
► Mar 2016 – British Open (R1) – James Willstrop | Score: 5-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7 (46m)
► Aug 2014 – Hong Kong Open (R1) – Tarek Momen | Score: 11-9, 12-10, 11-8 (42m)
► Apr 2014 – Grasshopper Cup (SF) – Tarek Momen | Score: 11-6, 1-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-9 (93m)
► Mar 2014 – World Tour Finals (RR) – James Willstrop | Score: 11-8, 11-8 (40m)
► Mar 2013 – Kuwait PSA Cup (R3) – James Willstrop | Score: 11-7, 11-5, 11-4 (31m)
► Jan 2013 – Tournament of Champions (R2) – James Willstrop | Score: 11-13, 11-8, 11-2, 11-6 (62m)
► Mar 2012 – Canary Wharf Classic (QF) – James Willstrop | Score: 6-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3, 11-9 (65m)
► Nov 2009 – Qatar Classic (R2) – James Willstrop | Score: 11-5, 11-7, 11-0 (26m)
Each player’s announcer introduction for today’s Round of 16 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 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, qualify for the PSA World Tour Finals, and crack the PSA’s top-5 for the first time, ending 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.
▲ R2 — def Nicolas Müller -17- (SUI) | Score: 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 (27m) | RECAP
▲ R1 — Bye
James Willstrop -18- (ENG)
His remarkable career now spans nearly two decades, and at 35-years-old, comes into this year’s Qatar Classic as England’s top-ranked player. He owns 8 Platinum-level titles, has competed in 20 Platinum-level Finals, and has qualified for the year-end PSA World Tour Finals a remarkable 10-times, where he reached the championship match in 2017. A Commonwealth Games Gold and 2-time Silver Medalist, he’s a 2-time British National Champion, a 3-time World Team Championship Gold Medalist, and he reached the Final of sport’s most prestigious event at the 2010 World Championship.
In 2012, he became World #1 for the first time, spent 11 months as the PSA’s top player, and over the past 19-years has been ranked inside the top-10 for astounding 12-years and 8-months. In total, he owns 19 PSA Tour titles, and started the new season in Nantes, France – where he reached his 43rd career Tour-level Final. Competing in his 13th Qatar Classic Squash Championship – in 2005, he absolutely dominated on this court, dropping only a single game in 5-matches to capture the title. From England, please welcome 2005 Qatar Classic Champion – 2011 Finalist – and the #18 Player in the World – The Marksman – James Willstrop.
▲ R2 — def Max Lee -14- (HKG) | Score: 11-6, 4-11, 11-8, 11-9 (48m) | RECAP
▲ R1 — Bye
