Makin Conquers Coll In Qatar Classic Shock
12 Sep 2023
Welshman Joel Makin shocked New Zealand's world No.5 Paul Coll in a pulsating 93-minute encounter on day three of the QTerminals Qatar Classic to reach the last 16 round of the PSA World Tour Platinum event in Doha.
World No.10 Makin started positively and his more attacking intent was in evidence early on as he took the game to Coll and built a 2/1 lead after 11-6 and 11-8 wins, either side of an 11-7 Coll win in game two.
In a nerve-shredding fourth game, Makin saw five match balls saved before finally breaching Coll's defences to take the contest with a 14-12 victory and set up a third-round clash with Egypt's Mohamed ElSherbini, who got the better of Scotland's Rory Stewart.
Elsewhere in the men's event, reigning champion Mohamed ElShorbagy came from behind to beat England teammate Charlie Lee, 2016 champion Karim Abdel Gawad overcame No.5 seed Marwan ElShorbagy, and Qatar's Abdulla Al Tamimi dispatched Omar Mosaad to keep home hopes alive.
In the women's draw, four round three matches were played, all on the spectacular glass court.
In a feisty encounter, US No.1 and No.7 seed Amanda Sobhy overcame 16-year-old World Junior Champion Amina Orfi 3/1, while top seed Nouran Gohar, No.3 seed Hania El Hammamy and No.8 seed Georgina Kennedy all won in straight games against Olivia Fiechter, Sivasangari Subramaniam and Sarah-Jane Perry.