Doha: Two Qatari players Hamad Al Amri and Syed Azlan Amjad - who have been handed wildcards at the PSA World Championship - will aim to spring a surprise or two at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
The duo along with world No. 47 Abdulla Al Tamimi are the three home players who will see action in the eight-day championship which is contested by the world top ranked players.
The first round action begins today with Amjad taking on unseeded Iker Pajares Bernabeu of Spain who is ranked of 35, while Hamad Al Amri will square up to World No.4 Paul Coll of New Zealand.
Al Tamimi on the other hand will be looking to improve upon and go a few notches up in the tournament having made to the third round of the World Championship in England.
In the 2017 event in Manchester, the Qatari, who had a all-time career high rank of 28 last year, lost to Nick Matthew. Tamimi had a good run in the 2018 season and the high point was winning the $35,000 Malaysian Open and breaking into the all-time career high rank of 28.
The Aspire Academy product, who has trained under many renowned coaches including former World champion Geoff Hunt of Australia, is eager to prove a point or two after some indifferent performances in the recent months which has seen his ranking slip into the 40’s.
Thus the 24-year-old, will be looking for a more consistent run while playing before the home crowd.
The home hero will begin his campaign against France’s Gregoire Marche, ranked 16 on the world ranking computer.
