Veterans Golan and Willstrop advance into second round along with India’s Tandon and Mangaonkar
Doha, Qatar: India’s Ramit Tandon pulled off a thrilling while advancing into the second round of the Qatar QTerminals Classic at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex on Sunday along with veterans Borja Colan of Spain and Englishman James Willstrop.
Day one of the week-long championship did not produce any surprising results save for Tandon getting past the challenge of Scotland’s Greg Lobban, who is ranked 14 places higher to him on the PSA computer.
Tandon overcame a few hiccups to register a thrilling 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 12-14, 11-8 win and march into the second round where he will take on England’s Patrick Rooney in round two.
Rooney fought his way back to carve out a thrilling 11-3, 9-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9 over Tsz Fung Yip of Hong Kong and advance into the second round.
It was a memorable day for the Indians as World No.55 Mahesh Mangaonkar completed his first ever win at a PSA World Tour Platinum event after a commanding performance against Scotland’s Alan Clyne.
The 27-year-old from Mumbai had lost his last three matches to Clyne, including a 3-0 defeat to the World No.50 at the Cleveland Skating Club Open last week.
This time around, Mangaonkar was on top from the off as he showed some nice touches at the front of the court to power into a 2-0 lead and eventually win it at 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-2 in 48 minutes.
Mangaonkar will now take on Germany’s Raphael Kandra in the second round tie.
Kandra won 11-2, 11-7, 11-5 against Abdulrahman Al Malki of Qatar, the wild card entrant from Qatar to end the hosts challenge at the championship.
Earlier, Qatar’s Sayed Azlan Amjad went down fighting to Declan James of England 11-4, 11-5, 11-7.
The Englishman will now take on Diego Elias of Peru in the second round tie.
It was the then the turn of the two veterans Colan and Willstrop on the court.The Spaniard stormed into the round of 32 with a commanding 3-1 victory over Todd Harrity of USA.The 38-year-old won 13-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2 to set up a round two, clash with No.4 seed Marwan ElShorbagy of Egypt.
Next was the turn of Willstrop to coast to an easy win over Faraz Khan of USA 11-1, 11-4, 11-3 with the former World No.1 taking just 18 minutes to dispatch his opponent in straight games.
Willstrop has been in a rich vein of form recently, beating the likes of Marwan ElShorbagy and Mohamed Abouelghar at the U.S. Open earlier this month to become the oldest ever Platinum quarter-finalist.
Willstrop takes on former Qatar champion Tark Momen of Egypt.
In the last match on Center Court, Rui Soares of Portugal defeated Arturo Salazar of Mexico in a five-game thriller 7-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-6, 11-6 to advance to the next round, where he will take on British Open and second seed Paul Coll of New Zealand.
Day one results
Ramit Tandon (IND) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 3-2: 11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 12-14, 11-8
Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) 3-2: 11-3, 9-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9
Declan James (ENG) bt [WC] Syed Azlan Amjad (QAT) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 (35m)
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [WC] Abdulrahman Al-Malki (QAT) 3-0: 11-2, 11-7, 11-5
Borja Colan (ESP) bt Todd Harrity (USA) 13-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2
James Willstrop (ENG) bt Faraz Khan (USA) 11-1, 11-4, 11-3
Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 3-1: 11-7, 11-6, 3-11, 11-2
Rui Soares (POR) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 7-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-6, 11-6
Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 3-1: 12-10, 6-11, 11-3, 2-0 retired
George Parker (ENG) bt Bernat Jaume (ESP) 3-2: 3-11, 9-11, 14-12, 13-11, 11-6
Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Mazen Gamal (EGY) 11-4, 11-5, 11-6
Tom Richards (ENG) bt Shahjahan Khan (USA) 11-4, 11-5, 11-7
Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 3-2: 11-4, 11-9, 10-12, 10-12, 11-7 (86m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 3-2: 5-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9 (66m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt Ryosei Kobayashi (JPN) 3-2: 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-7 (63m) Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bt Christopher Gordon (USA) 3-2: 3-2: 11-9, 12-10, 10-12, 9-11, 11-3 (75m)
