Tom Richards moves into first round draw
By Alan Thatcher, Squash Mad Editor
Egypt’s former World No.3 Omar Mosaad has pulled out of next week’s Canary Wharf Classic due to illness.
Mosaad, who was runner-up to Mathieu Castagnet, will be replaced in the draw by England’s Tom Richards.
Mosaad’s withdrawal means that fans will not now have the chance to see him in action against Australia’s Cameron Pilley in what would have been a battle between two of the hardest hitting players on the planet.
Mosaad, who has slipped to No.13 in the world rankings, will be replaced as the tournament’s No.3 seed by German No.1 Simon Rösner, who was runner-up to Nick Matthew in 2015, the year he accounted for James Willstrop and Peter Barker on his way to the final.
Mosaad’s compatriot, World No.11 Fares Dessouky, moves up to the No.4 seed position and he will now take on Richards, while world No.18 Pilley will instead face a qualifier.
Revised Main Draw – 2017 Canary Wharf Classic:
[1] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
[Qualifier] v [8] Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[6] Daryl Selby (ENG) v [Qualifier]
Paul Coll (NZL) v [3] Simon Rösner (GER)
[4] Fares Dessouky (EGY) v Tom Richards (ENG)
[WC] Lyell Fuller (ENG) v [5] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) v [Qualifier]
[Qualifier] v [2] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
The qualifying draw, released today, features some high-quality encounters, with Adrian Waller (England), Abdulla Al Tamimi (Qatar), Declan James (England) and Lucas Serme (France) the top four seeds.
Waller meets Welsh international Joel Makin, while Londoner Richie Fallows faces Al Tamimi. There is an all-England clash between No.8 seed Josh Masters and Nathan Lake, and an all-Surrey battle featuring No.7 seed Charles Sharpes and Charlie Lee.
Lee will be modelling his new Unsquashable gear after signing with the racket company. Part of the Rob Owen Academy (ROA) based in Kenilworth, as well as being coached at St George’s Hill by his father Danny, Charlie is supported by England Squash as part of its World Class Performance Programme.
Charlie is acknowledged as one of Europe’s most exciting young prospects and will make his return to competitive action tomorrow following an extended period away from the game through injury.
Qualifying Draw:
(1) Adrian Waller (ENG) v Joel Makin (WAL) 3pm
(6) Ben Coleman (ENG) v (L) Tristan Eysele (RSA) 3pm
(5) Mohamed Reda (EGY) v (L) Kyle Finch (ENG) 3.45pm
(3) Declan James (ENG) v (L) Vini Rodrigues (BRA) 3.45pm
(4) Lucas Serme (FRA) v Mazen Gamal (EGY) 5.30pm
(8) Josh Masters (ENG) v Nathan Lake (ENG) 5.30pm
(7) Charles Sharpes (ENG) v (L) Charlie Lee (ENG) 6.15pm
(2) Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) v Richie Fallows (ENG).
Matches start at 3pm tomorrow at the Wimbledon Racquets and Fitness Club in south west London.
Pictures by STEVE LINE (www.squshpics.com)