Egypt's Hania El Hammamy (left) in action against Sivasangari Subramaniam of Malaysia.
Doha, Qatar: Quarter-final action at the QTerminals Qatar Classic got underway yesterday with Egypt stamping its authority at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex.
Four of the nation’s top names, Hania El Hammamy, Amina Orfi, Fares Dessouky, and Mostafa Asal advanced to the semi-finals after delivering commanding performances in Doha.
Top favourite and the reigning World Champion Asal extended his unbeaten run against Youssef Soliman to eight matches as he advanced with a straight-games win (11-8, 11-4, 12-10) that came in 52 minutes.
The duo faced each other at the same stage of the Egyptian Open earlier this month, with Asal emerging the winner in similar fashion.
“He’s a very solid player, a fighter,” Asal, who is aiming to secure his maiden Qatar Classic title this time, said.
“It was a fair and good battle today, I like it when things are calm and there is respect between us, he’s a good friend. I’m really looking forward to the next one. Squash is a brutal sport and you need a good mentality. These are the things that make champions,” Asal said after defeating his compatriot, ranked eighth in the world.
Asal will take on World No.15 Dessouky for a place in his second consecutive Qatar Classic final.
Dessouky, meanwhile, returned to the last four of a Platinum event for the first time since 2020 with a 3-1 win over World No.10 Youssef Ibrahim.
“I’m so happy to be back at this stage again,” said Dessouky, who prevailed 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5 in 50 minutes.
“I’m going to play my best squash, but I have to focus and make it as clean as possible. I hope it will be a good match for both of us,” the 31-year-old said of the upcoming semi-final.
In the women’s draw, World No.2 El Hammamy booked her place in the semis for the third time in a row with a straight-games win over Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam. The 25-year-old sealed an 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 win in 34 minutes to book a meeting against compatriot Orfi in a repeat of the Egyptian Open final.
On the other hand, Orfi, ranked World No.5, defeated Malaysia’s Aira Azman 11-4, 11-4, 11-9 to reach her first Qatar Classic semi-final.
“I’m excited to make the semis of these Platinum events, it feels great,” said the 18-year-old, who also lifted the London Classic title earlier this season.
QTerminals Qatar Classic Quarter-Finals Results
MEN
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [7] Youssef Soliman (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 12-10 (52m)
Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5 (50m)
Women
[2] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [7] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (34m)
[4] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt Aira Azman (MAS) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-9 (34m)
