Qatar 2002
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Australian Sarah Fitz-Gerald's bid to win a record fifth world title remains
on track in Qatar, despite stormy weather in England which led to the plane
cancellation that threatened the squash star's arrival in Doha to defend her
title in the $102,500 Qatar Women's World Open Squash Championship.

Having arrived via Dubai and despite wearing borrowed clothes - her luggage
had already been booked onto the stricken flight - the world No1 from
Melbourne beat qualifier and compatriot Heidi Mather 9-3, 9-1, 9-2 in 24
minutes. The win knocked up Fitz-Gerald's 60th successive match victory on
the WISPA World Tour since August last year.

"What an ordeal!" said Fitz-Gerald afterwards. "I would have hated to miss
the chance to go for a fifth title because of gales in London."

France's Isabelle Stoehr and new Netherlands international Annelize Naude
pulled off the only upsets in the women's championship, with straight games
victories over Scotland's 11th seed Pamela Nimmo and England's 12th seed
Vicky Botwright, respectively.

In the men's $120,000 Qatar Classic, top seed and defending champion Peter
Nicol registered a straight-games win over qualifier Mansoor Zaman of
Pakistan. The world No1 and world champion from England won 15-5, 15-9,
15-14 in a match that lasted 39 minutes on the centre court at the Khalifa
Squash Complex.

"He played attractive squash," said Nicol after his victory over a fellow
left-hander. "It was not easy since Mansoor has great angles on his shots.
He is a dangerous customer. My game-plan was to stop Mansoor from playing
his natural game.

"It is important for me to win here because this will also help me retain my
world number one ranking. I hope I can play for another three or four years.
I still have the game and the desire to do well on the international level,"
Nicol added.

The longest match of the day saw unseeded Frenchman Renan Lavigne climb back
from 2-1 down to upset Australia's 16th seed Paul Price 15-10, 11-15, 8-15,
15-8, 15-9 in 108 minutes. Welshman Alex Gough also knocked out a seed -
Scotland's Martin Heath 15-8, 17-16, 9-15, 15-6 in 68 minutes. A further
upset between two Egyptians saw Amr Shabana defeat 13th seed Karim Darwish,
ranked seven places higher in the world, 15-7, 15-13, 16-17, 15-11 in 60
minutes to gain revenge for his straight games loss 10 days earlier in the
South African Challenge.

A spectacular ceremony in the Gulf state capital marked the opening of the
Qatar Classic 2002 and the 18th Women's World Open events, staged by
tournament organisers the Qatar Squash Federation. QSF President Nabil Ali
bin Ali read out a welcome speech for the 64 players taking part in the
six-day squash gala, before a spectacular 45-minute laser show and firework
display lit up the Doha night.

RESULTS:
Qatar Women's World Open Squash Championship, Doha, Qatar

1st round (top half of draw):
[1] Sarah Fitz-Gerald (AUS) bt [Q] Heidi Mather (AUS) 9-3, 9-1, 9-2 (24m)
[13] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Sharon Wee (MAS) 9-1, 9-0, 9-1 (24m)
[5] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) bt Madeline Perry (IRL) 9-1, 9-3, 9-5 (30m)
[16] Ellen Petersen (DEN) bt [Q] Wendy Maitland (SCO) 8-10, 6-9, 9-5, 9-2,
9-5 (75m)
[4] Linda Charman (ENG) bt [Q] Vicky Lankester (ENG) 9-2, 9-1, 9-2 (25m)
Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) bt [11] Pamela Nimmo (SCO) 9-2, 9-6, 9-5 (35m)
[8] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [Q] Kim Hannes (BEL) 9-1, 9-0, 9-1 (24m)
Annelize Naude (NED) bt [12] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 9-7, 9-5, 9-5 (37m)

Qatar Squash Classic, Doha, Qatar

1st round (top half of draw):
[1] Peter Nicol (ENG) bt [Q] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 15-5, 15-9, 15-14 (41m)
Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [13] Karim Darwish (EGY) 15-7, 15-13, 16-17, 15-11
(60m)
[8] Lee Beachill (ENG) bt Graham Ryding (CAN) 15-5, 15-11, 9-15, 15-12 (68m)
[9] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt [Q] Simon Parke (ENG) 15-7, 9-15, 15-9, 15-11
(67m)
[4] Stewart Boswell (AUS) bt Saud Al Sulaiti (QAT) 15-8, 15-9, 15-9 (31m)
Renan Lavigne (FRA) bt [16] Paul Price (AUS) 15-10, 11-15, 8-15, 15-8,
15-9 (108m)
[7] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) bt [Q] Nick Matthew (ENG) 15-14, 15-8, 15-7 (50m)
Alex Gough (WAL) bt [11] Martin Heath (SCO) 15-8, 17-16, 9-15, 15-6 (68m)

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