Round Two

[8] Joel Makin (Wal) 3-0 Mohamed Abouelghar             11-7, 11-3, 11-6 (33m)
[2] Ali Farag 3-0 Richie Fallows (Eng)                         11-9, 11-8, 11-3 (28m)
[3] Tarek Momen 3-1 Youssef Soliman               13-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-5 (56m)

Grégoire Marche (Fra) 3-0 Mohamed ElSherbini            11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (42m)
Youssef Ibrahim 3-1 Cesar Salazar (Mex)          4-11, 11-3, 12-10 retired (35m)
Borja Golan (Esp) 3-1 Omar Mosaad                   11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 13-11 (68m)

[6] Marwan ElShorbagy 3-0 [wc] Gregory Gaultier (Fra)   11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (40m)
Fares Dessouky 3-0 [7] Simon Rosner (Ger)                  11-3, 11-9, 11-8 (39m)
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-1 George Parker (Eng) 11-8, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8 (61m)

Tarek
“The issue is we are playing partners and so we play a lot together and that made it difficult today. We know each other’s game very well. I was definitely aware of how he has been improving his game. I expected a tough game from him today and I got one.

“James, as everyone knows is a former World No.1 and his skills are just incredible and out of this world. I always enjoy watching him and he is still competing at a really high level. He’s more than capable of toppling any top player on a good day, so I have to be careful and be on my toes. I know tomorrow won’t be an easy match but I’m going to enjoy it against a really good player.”

Ali 

“We’ve never played before, but I know how talented Richie is.

“This is a unique court in a good way in that it takes the ball in very easily, so any bad shot and you’re penalised immediately. All credit to Richie he played really well. In the first two I couldn’t really find my range and in the third I was happy I was able to find the corners I was intending to.

“Another guy I’ve never played before up next. What a promising talent he is, World Junior champion and has been knocking on the door for a while now. He is based in Bristol and is playing well, you could tell from his win today against a great player like Declan James, so I will have to watch his match and hopefully I will be ready. We need nothing here, the Qatar Squash Federation always does a great job of making us feel comfortable and there is nothing else you need other than thinking about your squash.”

Youssef
“I think he took me by surprise in the beginning. He was going short way too soon and it caught me by surprise. The court here is deadly, you get your rewards if you hit a really good length or boast, I think he adapted to the court much faster than I did. I was a bit disappointed by the first game and I didn’t perform as well as I would have liked. In the second I stayed on court just to hit a few more balls and get the feeling of the court a little bit and I had to respond to the first game.

“It was a bit of a scrappy match, but we are just using the advantage of the court as much as we can. I’m feeling really sorry for him, it’s a horrible way to win, but I remember last year I sprained my ankle in one of the matches and it seemed Qatar there is always something that happens! But I’m sure he will get back stronger.”

Marwan

“When I saw the draw, I knew that playing him would be really tough. Mentally, it is the toughest first match you can get because of what he has achieved. I watched him in 2006 when he played the World Championships and he is someone who really inspired me. He was my role model, he still is my role model.

“I admire what he has done for the game and just seeing the way he moves, the way he plays.. For me, he is one of the greatest players of all time! I am really happy to be on court with him. It is a pleasure for me and I hope that we see him for many years to come.

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