Elias to face Asal in the final, El Sherbini, Gohar eye glory

World Champion Diego Elias has reached the final of the QTerminals Qatar Classic for the third time after a sensational performance from the Peruvian saw him upset World No 1 Ali Farag in Doha on Friday.
Elias had often come unstuck against Farag and had only won five of their previous 29 matches, with Farag getting the better of him at the CIB Egyptian Open and Paris Squash already this season.
Elias was sublime form in Friday’s clash at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex as he stormed to an 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 victory in just 40 minutes of action.
Elias’s reward will be a title decider against World No 2 Mostafa Asal who beat Wales’ Joel Makin on Friday.
Asal, who has reached the Doha final for the first time, has now made it 14 wins in a row on the PSA Squash Tour and reached a ninth successive final following a 5-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 victory over the World No 9.
“I had my game plan ready and I was feeling good, but it doesn’t happen often that you beat Ali in 40 minutes,” Elias said on Friday after his win over Farag. “I really enjoy playing here and I really enjoy this court. When I’m here I think I play my best squash.
“I’m very excited to play another final here in Doha. I love it here and it’s my first final of the season too because I lost to Ali in the last two tournaments.”
Asal has been peerless on the men’s tour so far this season and has won both the CIB Egyptian Open and Paris Squash.
“It was a very disappointing first game, to be honest,” Asal said. “He was playing elite squash and was forcing me to make errors. I wasn’t finding a way, but thanks to the crowd, they pushed me all the way, it feels like home here.
“I wasn’t giving it 100 per cent in the beginning, but then I looked at the crowd and it pushed me all the way through. It was an amazing match, Joel is just an unbelievable player and I’m really happy with the win. All respect to Diego, today I felt he played some superb squash against Ali (Farag). Ali maybe wasn’t on form today, maybe something happened, but Diego was too good. I’m looking forward tomorrow to a brutal match against Diego.
“It’s a good rivalry and hopefully it’s going to be my title this time,” he added.
El Sherbini to clash with Gohar
World No 1 Nour El Sherbini on Friday advanced to her third successive final at the QTerminals Qatar Classic after she came back from 2-1 down to overcome defending champion Hania El Hammamy in a five-game thriller.
El Sherbini lost out to El Hammamy in five games in the 2023 title decider, but avenged that defeat on Friday with an 10-12, 12-10, 4-11, 11-5, 11-9 victory after 83 enthralling minutes at the Khalifa International.
She has now become just the second woman after Malaysian legend Nicol David to reach three straight Qatar Classic finals.
“It was definitely tough, but I’m really glad I won today,” El Sherbini said after the match.
“I lost to her in the final last year, so I’m really happy with the way I fought back and pushed her every point. Hania is amazing, she’s been through a lot and she’s always coming back stronger. It was tough but fair, and I’m really happy. I’m happy it was a good match for the crowd to watch and I’m happy to be through.
“I will try not to have any pressure or stress on me tomorrow. I will recover, relax and do my best tomorrow, I hope I can grab that title.”
Meanwhile, World Champion Gohar reached the final for the first time after she beat USA’s No 1 Olivia Weaver.
Gohar will take on El Sherbini in the final in what will be their 37th meeting on the PSA Squash Tour. They have contested the title decider of all eight major tournaments in 2024, with four wins apiece.
El Sherbini currently has the better of their head-to-head record, with 24 wins to Gohar’s 12.
“I’m very proud,” said Gohar after her 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6 win.
“I didn’t play my best tonight, but all credit to Olivia, she played well. It was more about mental toughness for me today. I felt that in the first game I was hitting my targets and I was focused, but there was a big drop off in the second game.
“When she hit me in the nose, it shook my head, and I told myself that I have to wake up. You don’t want to get hit, but it worked in my favour. From there, I executed my plan better and I’m glad I’m through.
“It can’t get much better than that (playing El Sherbini in the final). It’s been the final of the World Championship for the past four years, and we have played in every [major] final since El Gouna, which was in April. We’ve both been so consistent and I’m very proud to share these moments with Nour.
“We bring the best out of each other and we keep on trying to level up the game. I’m very excited for a final on this court, so to be through to the final here in Qatar means so much.”