Outsiders storm through as Coppinger meets Mohamed Elshorbagy and Aussie Cam Pilley faces top seed Gregory Gaultier
By Squash Mad Correspondent
Unseeded Stephen Coppinger, the World No.24 from Cape Town, pulled off what he described as the biggest win of his career as he beat Egyptian World No.9 Tarek Momen to move into the quarter-finals of the 2014 Qatar PSA World Championship.
The 30-year-old, who knocked World No.11 Daryl Selby out in round one, put in a thunderous performance to get past Momen in an 85-minute thriller, completing the victory with a dramatic final rally to take the match 12-10, 9-11, 14-12, 8-11, 11-8.
It’s a victory that sees him become the first South African since Roland Watson in 1979 to reach the quarter-finals and he will now take on World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy, conqueror of German Simon Rösner, for a place in the semi-finals.
“Considering the setting, the circumstance and that this is the World Championship, this is without a shadow of a doubt the biggest win of my career,” said Coppinger.
“I was just a few points away from a win and then had to start all over again but I done something similar in the first round so I had the belief that I could do it.
“I’m in the quarters now and I don’t think any player gets there easily, we’ve all had our own battles. I’ve come through a few of those so I’m mentally in the right place, so let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
Australia’s top-ranked squash player, Cameron Pilley (right), joined Coppinger as the only other unseeded player in the last eight after he defeated Botswana’s Alister Walker 3-0.
Pilley, the world No.20 from Yamba, took out World No.8 Peter Barker in his first round match and followed up that performance with an impressive and dominant display against Walker to set up a last eight encounter against World No.2 Gregory Gaultier.
“I’m absolutely stoked to be in the quarters of the World Championship,” said Pilley.
“It’s an awesome feeling, especially after the last few months where I’ve been out of form.
“Alister likes to use his physical attributes on the court and like with every player, I done what I could to neutralise their talents, and today everything worked to a tee for me.”
Elsewhere defending champion Nick Matthew survived a tough test against Saurav Ghosal of India to set up a last eight battle with four-time champion Amr Shabana, who overcame Max Lee of Hong Kong in just 29 minutes.
Two-time winner Ramy Ashour continued his return to competition with an entertaining victory over Colombian Miguel Angle Rodriguez, hitting back after losing the first game town 3-1. Ashour will meet Spanish champion Borja Golan, who ended the run of Egyptian Fares Dessouki.Â
The Egyptian contingent was reduced in size from six to three, but what a top trio as Elshorbagy, Ashour and Shabana prepare for the quarter-finals.
2014 Qatar PSA World Championship – Third Round
I[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [9] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-1: 10-12, 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 [66m] Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Alister Walker (BOT) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 12-10 [52m] [6] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Fares Dessouki (EGY) 3-1: 11-8, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5 [60m] [4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [12] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 3-1: 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 [47m] [3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt [14] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 3-1: 11-4, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9 [52m] [5] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt Max Lee (HKG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 [29m] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [10] Tarek Momen (EGY) 3-2: 12-10,9-11,14-12,8-11,11-8 [85m] [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [11] Simon Rösner (GER) 3-1: 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9 [65m]
2014 Qatar PSA World Championship – Quarter-final Draw:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
[6] Borja Golan (ESP) v [4] Ramy Ashour (EGY)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [5] Amr Shabana (EGY)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY)
Quarter-Final Head To Heads (from Howard Harding):
Picture courtesy of PSA