Mostafa Asal (right) and Aly Abou Eleinen in action during the quarter-final clash.
Doha, Qatar: World No.1 Mostafa Asal moved into the semi-finals of the 2026 Qatar Classic after overcoming Egyptian compatriot Aly Abou Eleinen in 91-minute thriller at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha yesterday.
Asal, chasing a maiden Qatar Classic title after finishing runner-up in each of the past two editions, prevailed 11-5, 11-4, 12-14, 12-10 to advance.
The top seed Asal looked to be in control after taking the opening two games, but Abou Eleinen fought back brilliantly to claim the third game 14-12 before pushing Asal to his limits in a tense fourth game.
Asal eventually sealed the victory closing out the game 12-10 to keep his title hopes alive.
Following the tense match which saw several heated moments, Asal called for players and officials to act responsibly.
“Sometimes it can be a proper squash match, and then it turns into a feast of decisions and stuff, acting, milking and all of this kind of thing,” Asal said.
“Responsibility for all of us as players. We had to take that on board and just sit down together, all of us, the referees, everyone.”
Asal also claimed that some players were deliberately exaggerating situations on court.
“There are players blocking, there are players taking movements, but there are players also, at the same point, milking it,” he said. “From the physical side, they couldn’t cope with the other top players, and they’re using their tactics for acting and lots of stuff.”
Asal now meets English opponent Marwan ElShorbagy for the 13th time in their careers, for a place in what could be his third Qatar Classic final.
Meanwhile, seventh seed ElShorbagy reached his first Qatar Classic semi-final after surviving a five-game battle against France’s Gregoire Marche.
ElShorbagy won the opening two games 11-5, 11-9, but Marche responded by taking the third 11-1 and the fourth 11-3 to force a decider.
The former Egyptian star then regained his composure to close out a 11-5, 11-9, 1-11, 3-11, 11-7 victory after 52 minutes.
“Greg and I always deliver entertaining matches. We did in Windy City earlier this year,” ElShorbagy said.
“It was in the same round. Last time it was his turn, this time it was my turn.”
“He’s an unbelievable player. He played better as he gets older. He uses experience,” he said.
“He’s the same generation as my brother, so I’ve been watching him for maybe 20 years or so,” ElShorbagy said, referring to his sibling Mohamed, a four-time Qatar Classic champion.
“I’m so happy for him to be able to play at this level, so I’m really happy to get into my first semi-finals at the Qatar Classic,” the 33-year-old said.
Meanwhile, there was no women’s action at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex Yesterday.
The women’s draw saw two quarter-finals decided without a ball being struck, with injuries forcing Nouran Gohar and Tinne Gilis to withdraw from their quarter-finals.
As a result, top seed and defending champion Hania El Hammamy advanced to the semi-finals via a walkover, while fourth seed Sivasangari Subramaniam also progressed without stepping on to the court.
El Hammamy was to face former World No.1 Gohar in one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament, while Sivasangari was scheduled to meet eighth seed Gilis.
