Qatar Classic to begin on Sunday
DOHA, October 28, 2017-The 2017 edition of Qatar Classic begins on Sunday (October 29) at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha with top players on the men's tour taking part in the second World Series event of the season.
Tournament top seed and World No.1 Gregory Gaultier will begin his campaign against Mexico's Cesar Salazar who recently won the Chicago Open. This will be the Frenchman's first appearance of the 2017/18 season after suffering an ankle injury which forced him to withdraw from both the NetSuite Open and US Open.
Gaultier could face two-time Qatar Classic champion Mohamed El Shorbagy in the semi-finals of the tournament should both prevail through their respective fixtures.
The Egyptian, former World No.1, has had a strong start to the season, which has seen him claim titles at the NetSuite Open and Channel VAS at St George's Hill and a runner-up finish at the US Open.
El Shorbagy will start his defence against a qualifier in round one.
US Open champion and current leader on the World Series Standings, Ali Farag, will look to continue his purple patch as he also opens against a qualifier in round one.
Elsewhere, defending champion, Karim Abdel Gawad who beat El Shorbagy 3-0 in the 2016 final opens against Spain's Borja Golan on Sunday.
Also in the bottom half of the draw, three-time World Champion Nick Matthew who beat Egypt's Karim Darwish in the 2009 Qatar Classic final will start his run against a qualifier in round one.
Tournament wildcard and home hope Abdulla Mohd al Tamimi will be looking to start strong in front of his home crowd as he comes up against Egypt's Fares Dessouky in the opening round.
Other strong contenders in the draw include England's former World No.1 James Willstrop, who last won the tournament in 2005. The Yorkshireman faces a tough ask in round one as he takes on Peru's Diego Elias, who has been one to watch on the men's tour so far this season defeating England's Matthew at the NetSuite Open and Marwan ElShorbagy at the US Open.
Marwan El Shorbagy, younger brother of Mohamed will begin his tournament against New Zealand's World No.10 Paul Coll of New Zealand.
Qatar Classic marks the second World Series event of the season for the men's tour and presents another chance for players to earn points for the World Series Standings as they bid to qualify for the season-ending PSA World Series Finals with only the top eight players on the men's standings earning a coveted berth at the lucrative tournament.
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