Doha: Abdulla Al Tamimi is set to spearhead Qatar’s efforts at the illustrious Qatar QTerminals Classic 2024, as the premier PSA and WSA World Series event makes its return to Doha on September 30.
As Qatar’s highest-ranked player, Al Tamimi will be making his ninth appearance in the Qatar Classic, where he faces a formidable opponent in the first round: No. 3 seed Mostafa Asal, as revealed by the tournament draw.
Having been eliminated by Tarek Momen in the third round last year, Al Tamimi is determined to advance further this time. However, Asal, the recent British Open champion and semi-finalist in 2022, will also be eager to make a strong impression upon his return to Doha after missing the event in 2023.
The tournaments will feature the world’s top-ranked players, including Egypt’s Ali Farag and Nour El Sherbini, who lead the men’s and women’s competitions, respectively, at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
Defending men’s champion Farag, who seeks to equal the record of British former World No. 1 Mohamed Elshorbagy with a fourth title in Doha, will contend with a highly competitive field that includes nearly all the leading players on the PSA tour.
Farag, a three-time Qatar Classic champion, will commence his campaign against India’s Ramit Tandon in the opening round. Meanwhile, Diego Elias, the newly crowned World champion and No. 4 seed, will aim to carry his World Championships momentum into the Doha tournament, which he won in 2021, as he faces Qatari wildcard entry Salem Al Malki in his first match.
The draw also includes New Zealand’s Paul Coll, currently ranked No. 3 in the world, who is in exceptional form after securing four titles, including two Platinum and one Gold level events. Coll, a two-time finalist at the Qatar Classic and one of the few players to have defeated World No. 1 Ali Farag multiple times last season, will begin his tournament against Scotland’s Greg Lobban.
The women’s division is equally populated with international stars.
Defending champion Hania El Hammamy is determined to make a significant return at the Qatar Q-Terminals Classic as she seeks to restore her peak performance after a difficult season last year. Currently holding the No. 3 position in the world rankings, El Hammamy is set to compete against the USA’s Sabrina Sobhy, with the intention of challenging ElSherbini in the pursuit of the world No. 1 ranking.
Top seed ElSherbini has previously fallen short of securing the Qatar title, having finished as runner-up in the last two tournaments, but she is eager to demonstrate her status as a leading contender for the title this time. ElSherbini, who has been designated as the top seed for the second consecutive year, will encounter a formidable opponent in former World No. 3 Joelle King during her opening match.
Nouran Gohar, the No. 2 seed, enters the tournament in exceptional form, having achieved five consecutive event victories last season, including her first World Championship title. Gohar is set to face Welsh player Emily Whitlock in the initial round.
The Qatar Q-Terminals Classic will also showcase Belgian sisters Nele and Tinne Gilis, along with Georgina Kennedy, Olivia Weaver, and Rowan Elaraby, all of whom are ranked within the top 10 globally, ensuring exciting matchups in the early stages of the tournament.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency, Tariq Zainal, the Secretary General of the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel, and Badminton Federation and Tournament Director, conveyed his enthusiasm for the forthcoming event.
“We are delighted to announce the hosting of a new edition of the Qatar Q-Terminals Classic, and we eagerly anticipate welcoming all the players participating in this remarkable edition,” Zainal remarked, highlighting that squash fans in Qatar can look forward to a week filled with high-caliber competition and exhilarating matches.
