[2] Tarek Momen -03- (EGY) def Raphael Kandra -25- (GER)
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Round-1 Score: 12-10, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4 (52m)
Match recap from Squash Announcer Andy Taylor, Voice of the 2019 PSA Mens World Championship.
This was the 6th meeting between Momen and Kandra – 5th at a Major. Tarek Momen remains undefeated, but tonight was his toughest test against the 2018 British Open Semifinalist.
In their five previous meetings, Kandra had won only a single game…in the 3rd-Round of 2018’s Hong Kong Open. After a 3-game loss to Momen in October’s Round of 16 atv the US Open, Raphael earned another game off The Viper in tonight’s second-game tiebreak. Familiarity with Tarek’s rhythm continues to make Kandra a tougher opponent.
Announcer Corner | Player Introductions
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[2] Tarek Momen -03- (EGY)
The Finalist at last season’s PSA World Championship – in Chicago, he took-out the defending champion Mohamed Elshorbagy in 5-games to reach the title match. He was also a Semifinalist at the World Championship in 2015, where he defeated 3-time World Champ Nick Matthew to reach the Final-4. Over the past 2-seasons, he’s reached 2 Platinum Finals – including his first right here at the 2017 Qatar Classic – and over the past 12-months, has reached the Semifinals in 6 of the last 7 Platinum events. He started the new season by reaching his 24th career Final at the NetSuite Open, and returns to Doha with a career-high ranking of World #3. From Egypt, this is 2011 Arab Games Doha Gold Medalist – Tarek “The Viper” Momen.
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Raphael Kandra -25- (GER)
8-years-ago, as a 20-year-old ranked outside the top-100, he won a pair of qualifying matches to reach the main draw in his World Championship debut. Since then, he’s won 13 PSA titles – and in 2018, reached his first career Platinum Semifinal at the British Open – where he defeated 3-time World Champion Nick Matthew in the Round of 16. Now a 2-time German National Champion, last season he cracked the PSA’s top-15 for the first time – and started the new season in September with an upset over World #5 Simon Rösner to reach the NetSuite Open Quarterfinals. Competing in his 8th PSA World Championship – From Germany, this is Raphael Kandra.
