Doha: World No.1 Ali Farag yesterday set up a blockbuster QTerminals Qatar Classic semi-final clash against the reigning world champion Diego Elias following a commanding straight-set win over Nicolas Mueller at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex. Egypt’s Farag made light work of Switzerland’s Mueller, winning 14-12, 11-5, 11-6 in 34 minutes, while Elias dispatched seventh seed Tarek Momen in four games (11-6, 9-11, 11-4, 11-4) to set up the marquee meeting which will be a rematch of last year’s final.
Farag, a Qatar Classic champion in 2018, 2020 and 2023, was tested to his limits by Mueller in the first game before fighting hard to secure an early lead. Farag then went on to secure the next two games relatively easily to make back-to-back Qatar Classic semi-finals. “It’s always quick-fire stuff with Nicky,” said Farag.
“I’m the opposite, I like to contain my opponents, but he doesn’t give me the chance to do that. Sometimes I have to accept it and go along with his game plan. I thought I started off well at 6-2, and then suddenly I was 7-6 down.
“All in all, I’m very pleased to get this one under my belt, otherwise it would have been a different story,” Farag said. Meanwhile, Elias, despite having an unfavourable record of just five wins from 18 previous meetings against Momen, yesterday had a strong start against the World No.7.
After going down in the first game, Momen fought back in the second, but Elias proved he is stronger this t.