Qatari squash star Abdullah Al-Tamimi clinched the title of the Cape Town Squash Championship held in South Africa on its iconic glass courts. Al-Tamimi secured a commanding victory in the final against England’s Declan James, winning in straight sets 3-0.
The match, which lasted 40 minutes, saw Al-Tamimi dominate the game despite a closely contested first set that featured 15 minutes of intense rallies and decisive shots. However, Al-Tamimi’s composure forced his opponent into errors, concluding the match with scores of 15–13, 11–5, and 11–6.
This victory marks Al-Tamimi’s 11th title in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour and his first-ever win against James after five previous attempts.
The journey to the final was not without challenges, as Al-Tamimi suffered a head injury in the semi-final against Egypt’s Karim El Hammamy. Despite the setback, he emerged victorious in a grueling match that ended 3-2 in his favor.
Reflecting on his performance, Al-Tamimi said:
“I tried to stay calm and balanced as he gained momentum in each set. I managed to force my opponent into making errors, especially towards the end of the match. I knew James retrieves a lot of shots, which makes you think you need to play short rallies with him. I executed this but also pressed deep before returning to short shots, which worked well.”
Mr. Tariq Zainal, Secretary General of the Qatar Tennis, Squash, Padel, and Badminton Federation, praised Al-Tamimi’s achievement, stating:
“We are extremely proud of Abdullah’s accomplishment in this championship. It is a testament to his continuous efforts to improve his level. We are confident that he will continue to achieve even greater successes globally.”
Zainal reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to developing Qatari players and supporting them in various competitions, emphasizing that such achievements highlight Qatar’s presence on the international sports stage.
