Quarterfinal recap from Squash Emcee Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Classic.
Since 2017, Andy Taylor has been the voice of the Qatar Classic Squash Championship. With his individual style and delivery, Andy writes and narrates each player’s introduction; highlighting career accomplishments, providing context for fans before each match. As tournament emcee, Andy also interviews the winners and hosts the trophy ceremony at the conclusion of the championship.
In addition to his role with the Qatar Squash Federation, Taylor also hosts Doha’s professional tennis events, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open and Qatar Total Open.
A voice acting veteran, Andy is best known as the Voice of the US Open in New York. There, he has spent the last 20-years shaping the sound of the tennis season’s final Grand Slam; enhancing the fan experience. Informing. Entertaining. Celebrating sport and its colorful cast of characters.
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Superman saves match balls in fourth. Another marathon win over Abouelghar.
[2] Paul Coll -03- (NZL) | Quarterfinal Emcee Introduction
The #2-seed at this year’s Qatar Q-Terminals Classic; this 29-year-old is back in Doha as the reigning British Open Champion, with a career-high ranking of World #3. And the truth is – this place – these conditions – this atmosphere – have all sparked the flames fueling his relentless rise to the top of the sport. A back-to-back Doha Finalist – 2-years-ago, he reached the championship match of the PSA World Championship on this court; and last year, backed it up with a run to the Qatar Classic Final. Now a 5-time Major Finalist; 2 months ago in Hull, he won his first Platinum the hard way – defeating the top-2 talents in the world, Mohamed Elshorbagy and Ali Farag to claim the title. Through to the Quarterfinals after 3-game victories over Rui Soares and Baptiste Masotti – From New Zealand, please welcome “Superman” Paul Coll.
- QF — W — Mohamed Abouelghar -15- (EGY) | Score: 11-5, 4-11, 10-12, 12-10, 11-8 (93m)
- R3 — W — Baptiste Masotti -25- (FRA) | Score: 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (48m) | RECAP
- R2 — W — Rui Soares -68- (POR) | Score: 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 (26m) | RECAP
- R1 — BYE
EMCEE NOTEBOOK
- Consistency. Work ethic. Mental and Physical Flexibility. Unwavering fitness. Paul Coll has become the complete package and most dangerous threat to natural, intuitive talents like Ali Farag and Mohamed Elshorbagy
- That said, Paul’s relentless determination and gutsy court presence is rubbing off on the top Egyptians. All three are learning a lot from one another, pushing each other and the sport itself to new levels of required athleticism
- On the first point, consistency – Coll has truly delivered over the last three seasons. Since the 2018 British Open, New Zealand’s top talent has reached the Quarterfinals or better in all 19 Platinum Tournaments he’s played
- Aside from his loss to Simon Rösner 3-years-ago in the Quarterfinals of the 2018 Qatar Classic; Paul’s Platinum losses have only come at the hands of Egyptian names like Farag, Elshorbagy (both), and recently Asal
Mohamed Abouelghar -15- (EGY) | Quarterfinal Emcee Introduction
On Monday, this 28-year-old knocked-out 2016 champion and World #6 Karim Abdel Gawad – his first match victory at the Qatar Q-Terminals Classic in 6-years. Then yesterday, he earned a 27-minute, 3-game victory over England’s Adrian Waller; and tonight, is through to the Qatar Classic Quarterfinals for the first time. In fact, this is his first Platinum Final-8 appearance since the 2018-19 season – when he reached 4 Major Quarterfinals, climbed to a career-high ranking of World #7, and reached the championship match of the PSA World Tour Finals. In pursuit of his second top-10 victory this week; a spot in his first Platinum Semifinal on the line – from Egypt, please welcome World #15, The Bullet, Mohamed Abouelghar.
- QF — L — [2] Paul Coll -03- (NZL) | Score: 5-11, 11-4, 12-10, 10-12, 8-11 (93m)
- R3 — W — Adrian Waller -29- (ENG) | Score: 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 (27m) | RECAP
- R2 — W — [5] Karim Abdel Gawad -06- (EGY) | Score: 4-11, 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 (45m) | RECAP
- R1 — BYE
EMCEE NOTEBOOK
- One of Mohamed Abouelghar’s biggest victories was his Round of 16 upset of Karim Abdel Gawad at the 2017 British Open. At the time, Gawad was the reigning World Champion and World #2. Abouelghar was the World #23 and hadn’t beaten Karim in nearly four years. With the victory, Abouelghar reached his first of seven career Platinum Quarterfinals.
- A steady top-20 talent over the past five seasons; unlike other Egyptian talents, the Bullet didn’t burst onto the scene and rocket-up the rankings. His climb to the top of the sport has been measured…and tested by injuries
- The fact is, Mohamed needs to make some deeper runs at the Majors to maintain the position he’s worked so hard to achieve
- No question, the Bullet’s best season came during the 2018-19 campaign. After 3-months off, he tore into the new season by capturing his first Gold-level title at the China Open, defeating former World #1 Gregory Gaultier en route to the title. He then won his first PSA Silver title at the Motor City Open, and upset World #1 Ali Farag at the Grasshopper Cup. At the Majors, he reached the Quarterfinals at four of the seven Platinums and made his Round of 16 debut at the World Championship. Inside the top-10, he reached the championship match of the PSA World Tour Finals and jumped to a career-high ranking of World #7
- Since then, the results haven’t been as epic, but they’ve been good enough. Injuries and the global pandemic haven’t helped
- When squash returned from the 6-month shutdown that abruptly ended the 2019-20 season, Abouelghar reached Round-2 of the Manchester Open; then was forced to withdraw from the Egyptian Open after testing positive for COVID-19
- At the remaining Platinum events of the 2020-21 season, he lost his opening matches at the Qatar Classic and Black Ball Open; then fell in the Round of 16 in El Gouna, at the World Championship, and at the British Open
- With Round of 16 losses in Giza and Philadelphia this season, the Bullet’s ranking is starting to slip. Before the new season began, he was the World #12. Here in Doha, he’s the World #15. His first Platinum Quarterfinal since 2019 is just what the doctor ordered
► MORE EMCEE RECAPS FROM THE QATAR CLASSIC SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIP 2021
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QATAR SQUASH: 27 YEARS OF HIGHLIGHTS AND HISTORY
For nearly three decades, the Qatar Squash Federation has hosted the sport’s elite at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. Originally coined the Qatar International, Pakistan’s Jansher Khan captured the first five Doha titles from 1992 to 1996. Canada’s Jonathan Power then won back-to-back Doha titles over Scotland’s Peter Nichol; earning triumphs at the 1997 Qatar International and the 1998 World Championship.
Enter the Qatar Classic Squash Championship
After a two year absence, professional squash returned to Doha in 2001. Rebranded the Qatar Classic, Peter Nichol – now representing England – again reached back-to-back Doha Finals. This time, he captured the first two Qatar Classic titles over Australia’s David Palmer. England’s Lee Beachill and James Willstrop won the next two Qatar Classic titles, before Egypt began its outright Doha dominance.
In fact, since Ramy Ashour became the first Egyptian Doha champion at the 2006 Qatar Classic; the Arab nation has won 13 of the last 15 Doha titles, including three World Championships. Alexandria’s Mohamed Elshorbagy – the only 3-time Qatar Classic Champion – reached a record six consecutive finals on this court between 2012 and 2017. Most recently, Ali Farag won back-to-back Qatar Classic titles in 2018 and 2020. Unfortunately, the World #1 won’t be back in Doha this year to defend the title.
Professional Squash and COVID-19
Like every international sport, the recent global pandemic has created tremendous challenges for squash events worldwide. Due to COVID’s insidious spread, the 2019-20 season ended abruptly in March; immediately following Mohamed Elshorbagy’s victory at the 2020 Canary Wharf Classic.
Without fans, the sport launched its return six months later in Manchester – another Elshorbagy triumph. However, with global cases hitting a second surge, all events in the United Kingdom, United States and Asia were shuttered. The 2020-2021 season was in peril. At the time, as a U.S. resident, Andy Taylor made the difficult decision to suspend all international travel. Reluctantly, he stepped away from his role as emcee at the 2020 Qatar Classic.
Saviors. The Qatar Squash Federation and CIB’s CEO Hussein Abaza of Egypt
Over the next 10-months, Qatar and Egypt were the only two nations to host PSA Platinum events. Without the U.S. Open. Hong Kong Open. New York’s Tournament of Champions. The Windy City Open. And British Open — The sport needed bold and determined intervention.
Cautiously, the QSF moved forward with the Qatar Classic, providing a COVID safe bubble for players and crew. Meanwhile, Egypt’s Hussein Abaza went above and beyond. Remarkably, CIB’s CEO spearheaded two PSA World Tour Finals, the Egyptian Open, two Black Ball Opens and El Gouna International. From September to June, he funded six expensive, top-tier PSA events for both the men’s and women’s tours. Egypt became the hub of the sport – a safe place to compete while vaccinations took hold; while the world recovered.
Thankfully, since July, much of the globe has slowly opened back up. Chicago hosted the World Championships. Hull welcomed the sport’s elite for the British Open. Last month, it was only fitting that the 2021-22 season began in front of the pyramids at Giza. True to form, Egyptian rivals Ali Farag and Mohamed Elshorbagy headlined the event; delivering an exceptional 5-game Final, where Farag lifted his 9th Platinum trophy.
A Sport Back on Track, thanks to human compassion and ingenuity
After September’s Egyptian Open, the U.S. swing was also a tremendous success. From San Francisco to the US Open’s immaculate new Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia; fans responsibly returned, recently tested or fully vaccinated. All starved to once again see the best in the world compete inside the glass.
Now, squash returns to the Arab Gulf for the 17th Qatar Classic Squash Championship.
Thankfully, as global vaccinations continue their ascent, the new squash season is beginning to follow a familiar path. While the past 19-months have been dark, spotlighting the reality of human fragility; it has also been an epoch defined by compassion, resilience and hope. Squash, as a sport and lifestyle, embodies these traits.
When we choose to quiet the noise, steel our determination, and commit to selflessly work together toward collective good; ultimately toward survival — the darkness is no match for our blinding ingenuity.
No, the fight isn’t over. But we’ve hit some astonishing nicks, and continue to edge closer toward “match ball.”
