Egypt's Karim Abdel Gawad (left) in action against Qatar's Abdulla Al Tamimi.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Abdulla Al Tamimi pushed former champion and Karim Abdel Gawad to his limits before the Egyptian fourth seed eventually prevailed 11-7, 15-13, 5-11, 11-8 in a 48-minute battle on the opening day of the $242,000 Qatar Classic 2026 in Doha yesterday.
At the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, Al Tamimi, competing as a wildcard after returning to action from injury last month, showed his fighting qualities against the experienced campaigner. Qatar’s other representative, Salem Al-Malki, also saw his campaign come to an end, with France’s Melvil Scianimanico recording a 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 victory.
At the top of the men’s draw, World No.1 Mostafa Asal made a strong start to his Qatar Classic title bid, dispatching Switzerland’s Nicolas Mueller 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 in 26 minutes. Asal, twice a runner-up in Doha, immediately underlined his intentions as he looks to finally go all the way to the top in Doha.
Defending champion Paul Coll was equally impressive, beginning his title defence with an 11-2, 11-3, 11-1 demolition of India’s Veer Chotrani in 26 minutes.
One of the highlights of the day came when American Timothy Brownell stunned No.3 seed Diego Elias in a thrilling five-game battle.
The two-time former champion Elias took the first two games 11-5, 11-9, but Brownell fought back to win the next three 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 and complete a remarkable 57-minute comeback and clinch the biggest win of his career.
“I just wanted to say something about the tour here. Some people think the gap between the top and the bottom players is bigger than it is. Maybe at the very top it is, but the margins are thin. The more upsets there are the better. I’m really happy to get through and excited to get the win,” Brownell said after the win.
Meanwhile, seventh seed Marwan ElShorbagy moved through with a 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 victory over Spain’s Bernat Jaume, while No.8 seed Aly Abou Eleinen defeated Jamaica’s Declan James 11-6, 11-9, 11-7. No.6 seed Mohamad Zakaria also advanced, beating Germany’s Raphael Kandra 11-4, 11-3, 5-11, 11-5.
On the other hand, women’s draw produced one of the day’s biggest stories as former World No.1 Nouran Gohar marked her return to the Qatar Classic with a commanding victory over fellow Egyptian Kenzy Ayman.
Gohar, returning to the PSA Tour after a year away following the birth of her first child, needed just 22 minutes to secure an 11-7, 11-1, 11-3 victory.
Defending champion and top seed Hania El Hammamy also progressed, overcoming Hana Moataz 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8 in 46 minutes.
Three-time champion Nour ElSherbini survived a much tighter encounter with Nada Abbas, winning 11-8, 11-3, 11-13, 11-9 in 39 minutes.
Second seed and reigning World Champion Amina Orfi was another comfortable winner, defeating Hana Ramadan 11-2, 11-5, 11-5, while No.6 seed Fayrouz Aboelkheir, Belgium’s Tinne Gilis and England’s Georgina Kennedy were also among those who advance.
