Doha: Egypt’s Ali Farag kept his calm to fight back and keep his title-defence campaign on track, while Swiss World No.24 Nicholas Mueller stunned last year’s semi-finalist Mazen Hesham on Day 2 of the Q-Terminals Qatar Classic in Doha, yesterday. The World No.
1, Farag, was tested to his limits by compatriot Youssef Soliman in their 55-minute clash. The latter won the first game 11-6, leaving the spectators in awe. However, Farag, no stranger to the glass court at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, staged a valiant attack in the next three games to finish off with a 3-1 (6-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-4) scoreline to reach back-to-back quarter-finals in the Qatari capital.
“It was a tough battle, but nothing I didn’t expect. Yusuf has been knocking on the door for years. He’s beaten some of us before, and I think this season he’s playing the best squash of his career.
I stuck to my usual game plan, trying to wear him out, but I think I overdid it a little,” Farag said. “I had my chances, but credit to him—he didn’t let me dictate the game the way I would’ve liked. Thankfully, I had my team in my corner, made a few adjustments, and played better from that point on,” Farag, who had only suffered one defeat to Soliman in eight previous meetings, said.
Farag, if he succeeds, can match his compatriot Mohamed ElShorbagy in winning the most number of Qatar Classic titles, following his title wins in 2018, 2019 and 2023. The 32-year-old said he enjoys .
