Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Classic 2026 opens tomorrow at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, and the draw brings together a number of heavyweight round-one clashes.
A number of champions, former champions and home hero Abdulla Al-Tamimi will enter the fray today at the prestigious indoor sports venue in Doha.
World No.1 Mostafa Asal will begin his Qatar Classic title campaign against Switzerland’s Nicolas Muller, with the Egyptian determined to avoid another near-miss in Doha. Asal has finished runner-up at the Qatar Classic in each of the past two years, and the top seed will be determined to go all the way to the top this time.
Four-time champion Mohamed ElShorbagy also begins his campaign against France’s Bernat Jaume, while No.3 seed and former champion Diego Elias faces American Timothy Brownell.
Elias remains one of the most consistent players on the PSA Tour and could face Asal in the semi-finals if the seeding holds. If both of them reach the semis, it would be their fifth meeting of the year.
Defending men’s champion Paul Coll will also be in action, opening his title defence against India’s Veer Chothrani. The New Zealander is bidding to claim his second Qatar Classic crown.
For the home crowd, the spotlight will be on 2016 champion Karim Abdel Gawad, who faces Al-Tamimi.
Al-Tamimi returned to competition last month following injury and is using the Qatar Classic as valuable preparation ahead of the Asian Games in Japan. Qatar’s other representative, Salem Al-Malki, will take on France’s Melvil Scianimanico.
On the women’s side, defending champion Hania El Hammamy starts against fellow Egyptian Hana Moataz. El Hammamy has already lifted the Qatar Classic trophy twice, in 2023 and 2025.
El Hammamy will be also looking to defend her World No.1 status, which will be challenged by World No.2 and reigning World Champion Amina Orfi who faces fellow Egyptian Hana Ramadan.
Meanwhile, former World No.1 and World Champion Nouran Gohar is back on the PSA Tour after a year away following the birth of her first child in April.
Gohar’s comeback begins against compatriot Kenzy Ayman, in what promises to be a demanding first test for the 2024 Qatar Classic runner-up. Four-time finalist Nour ElSherbini, seeded No.3, opens against Egypt’s Nada Abbas, while USA No.1 Olivia Weaver, seeded fourth, is in action against Egypt’s Sana Ibrahim.
