Squash Host Andy Taylor | The Voice of the Qatar Classic | Photo: Steve Cubbins
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Tom Richards -30- (ENG) def Mohamed Reda -52- (EGY)
Match recap from Squash Host Andy Taylor, Voice of the Qatar Classic.
[vector_icon icon=”fas fa-check-circle”] Round-1 Final: 9-11, 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 (60m)
7-years-ago, a 25-year-old Tom Richards won his first main-draw victory at the Qatar Classic, defeating legend Ramy Ashour. That said, Ashour was injured and retired at the end of game-2. The following year, he took Karim Abdel Gawad to a deciding game in the 2012 World Championships.
In 2013, he returned to Round-2 of the Qatar Classic after an epic 91-minute, deciding-game victory over Malaysia’s Nafiizwan Adnan. And in 2014, he reached Round-2 of the World Championships for the 4th time.
Since then, he hasn’t won a match in Doha…until today.
In his 4th career meeting with Mohamed Reda, Richards went the distance – earning victory in exactly one-hour. A look at their previous matches:
▲ Nov 2017 Hong Kong Open [Q]. Tom Richards advances with a w/o
▲ Mar 2013 Canary Wharf Classic (R1). Tom Richards 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 (36m)
▲ Dec 2009 Saudi International [Q]. Mohamed Reda 8-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-8, 11-6 (81m)
▲ Oct 2009 Hong Kong Open [Q]. Mohamed Reda 12-10, 11-7, 11-6 (46m)
Here’s a look at each player’s introduction for today’s Round-1 match…
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Tom Richards -30- (ENG)
At 32-years-old, he owns 6 PSA titles, has reached 14 career Finals, and has been ranked as high as #12 in the World. He comes into this year’s Qatar Classic after a Quarterfinal run at the St. George’s Hill Classic, where he earned his first career victories over Spain’s Borja Golan and World #12 Omar Mossad. Last season, he reached 4 Finals, captured 2 PSA titles, kept his unbeaten streak alive at the European Team Championship, and returns to Doha ranked inside the PSA’s top-30 for the first time since 2016. Competing in his 8th Qatar Classic Squash Championship – From England, please welcome the #30 Player in the World – Tom Richards
▲ Tom has a win over Ramy Ashour on this court (2011 Round-1). But in fairness, the Egyptian retired down 2-games at the 18th minute.
Mohamed Reda -52- (EGY)
At 29-years-old, he’s been ranked as high #23 in the World, and won his 15th career PSA title right here in Doha, capturing the 2015 Qatar Circuit-1 title with a victory over top-seed Jens Shoor of Germany. A 2-time Finalist last season, he’s reached 23 career championship matches; and today, is on the hunt for his 10th Platinum-level main-draw victory. His two biggest Platinum wins came at the Sky Open in Cairo, where in both 2008 and 2009, he defeated former World #4 Stewart Boswell to reach the 2nd-Round. Competing in his 10th Qatar Classic Squash Championship – From Egypt, please welcome the World #52, Mohamed Reda.
Mohamed Reda’s biggest Platinum victories
Mohamed Reda earned his two biggest Platinum-level victories over former World #4 Stewart Boswell of Australia, who now lives in Doha. Reda defeated Boswell in Round-1 of the Sky Open in both 2008 and 2009.
▲ 2009: 11-8, 2-11, 11-9, 11-9 (69m)
▲ 2008: 6-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 (106m)
