Rösner Defeats Willstrop on Thrilling Third Day of Qatar Classic by Sean Reuthe
photos squashpics.com
November 15, 2016
- The third day of action at the 2016 Qatar Classic - the World Series
tournament taking place at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash
Complex in Doha - saw German No.1 Simon Rösner put in an immaculate
display to defeat former World No.1 James Willstrop.
Rösner, the current World No.13, was deadly from the outset and
executed his game plan to perfection, with a powerful and accurate
performance sending Willstrop into all four corners of the court,
drawing the normally accurate Yorkshireman out of his comfort zone and
into a number of errors to record a superb 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 victory.
"I think I played my best squash, my best squash of the season, at least," said Rösner.
"I kept him behind me most of the time and I was able to attack quite
well at the front. I played attacking squash and I think that I can't
play much better than that.
"It’s so tough to beat this guy, I think he's pretty much back to
normal and playing the way he used to before he was injured. To beat
him in this form is quite special for me, so I'm really glad."
Rösner will take on defending champion Mohamed ElShorbagy for a place
in the semi-finals after the World No.1 overcame a strong challenge
from Hong Kong’s Leo Au.
A focused start from the man from Hong Kong saw him start the better of
the two players, but ElShorbagy ramped up the pace to force Au into a
number of errors towards the latter stages to take the lead.
Au fought back in the second to draw level, but the Egyptian soon
rediscovered his rhythm to pull through with a 12-10, 11-13, 11-8, 11-8
triumph.
“I thought I was up and down again like the first round and I lost focus at times," said ElShorbagy.
"Mentally, I felt a bit tired in the first round, but today I felt
fresh. When you're playing short, sharp rallies, you have to be
mentally fresh to keep it up. If you're not, you're going to struggle
big time in these kinds of conditions.
"Yesterday, I took the full day off, I didn't even touch my squash
racket for even a minute, and I never normally do that during
tournaments, but I had to. After a long two years, I had to take one
day off and I felt that I deserved one."
World Champion Karim Abdel Gawad continued his title charge, but was
forced all the way to five games after a dogged challenge from fellow
Egyptian Zahed Mohamed to set up a quarter-final fixture with World
No.7 Marwan ElShorbagy, with the 23-year-old defeating Australia’s Ryan
Cuskelly.
Gawad twice saw a one-game lead wiped out by Mohamed, who dug in and
hit a number of sumptuous winners against his in-form compatriot. But a
fast start to the fifth game from Gawad saw the 25-year-old finally
break Mohamed’s resistance, and he recorded a 13-11, 9-11, 11-3, 9-11,
11-5 victory to reach the last eight.
"Since my first tournament here in Qatar, I played really well and I always play well here," said Gawad.
"I was looking forward to this tournament especially, I've done well
the last few tournaments, and I believe I can also do well here.
Tomorrow is a new day, I will just come on court and focus as if it is
the first match and I will try to grab the win.”
Frenchman Gregoire Marche has reached his first ever World Series
quarter-final after coming through an intense five-game contest with
World No.9 Tarek Momen.
It was one-way traffic in the beginning of the encounter, with Momen
looking sharp as he went a game ahead for the loss of four points.
Marche moved up through the gears to take the next two games, but a
combination of strong retrieving from Momen and some errors from the
racket of Marche saw the Egyptian level, before Marche took the fifth
to close out a hard-fought triumph.
"It’s my first ever World Series quarter final, and I feel this is not the end," said Marche.
"I felt good on court today, and even if there were a few moments I
felt a bit in the red, at the end, I had a lot left under the foot, and
that’s a great feeling to have. I cannot describe the feeling you get
when you beat somebody like Tarek, somebody I’ve always admired.”
Three-time World Champion Nick Matthew will face Marche for a place in
the semi-finals after defeating tenacious Scotsman Alan Clyne, while
Australian No.1 Cameron Pilley and World No.19 Daryl Selby will contest
the other quarter-final fixture courtesy of respective wins over
Mexico’s Cesar Salazar and qualifier Adrian Waller.
Draw - Quarter-Final: To be played Wednesday November 16
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v [7] Simon Rösner (GER)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [4] Nick Matthew (ENG)
[3] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
[8] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Daryl Selby (ENG)
