Rodriguez Floors Farag In Qatar Classic Shock

Colombia's world No.17 Miguel Rodriguez turned in a vintage performance to produce another huge shock in the QTerminals Qatar Classic when he dumped world No.1 and current World Champion Ali Farag out in the third round of the PSA World Tour Platinum event in Doha.

Farag, who enjoyed a 10-1 head-to-head record against the 36-year-old, will have known not to take anything for granted after watching world No.2 Paul Coll crash out at the hands of local player Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi, ranked 42 places lower 24 hours earlier, but found himself a game down after a fantastic start from Rodriguez.

The Colombian was excellent all over the court as he saved a game ball at 11-10 before taking the first game 13-11.

The inevitable Farag response came in game two as the Egyptian, playing his first match on the tour since the World Tour Finals in June after a round one walkover victory, quickly levelled with an 11-5 win and then moved into the lead with an 11-6 victory in the third.

Now, though, it was the Colombian's turn to respond. The former world No.4 flew into a 9-1 lead in game four as he looked to level the score with his brilliant combinations at the front of the court. Farag, who had lacked a little discipline at the beginning of the game, began to pull things back and narrowed the gap to 9-6, before the Colombian eventually took the fourth game 11-8.

Although Farag worked his way into a 5-2 lead in the fifth game, more errors came from the world No.1's racket as Rodriguez harried, with the ever-attacking Colombian covering every inch of the court and repeatedly finding his targets.

As Rodriguez began to pull away another shock result appeared to be on the horizon. With two match balls at 10-8, the Colombian was able to convert at the first time of asking thanks to a brilliant recovery under pressure and then a remarkable shot that died instantly on the side wall.

After collapsing to the floor in disbelief and being congratulated by Farag, Rodriguez said: "What I achieved today is amazing for me.

"I've had a difficult week [and] my head is not the best, but apart from that, I played without any pressure.

"The more I stay competitive, my body responds better. I know I don't have too much time to continue on the tour but it's amazing to be here again."

Rodriguez's reward is a quarter-final clash with world No.5 Mohamed Elshorbagy, after the Englishman overcame Egypt's Youssef Soliman in straight games.

Soliman, who came into the match at his highest ever World Ranking of 12, won plaudits for his impressive win at the inaugural Zed Open just days ago.

Former world No.1 Elshorbagy, however, made short work of the Egyptian, better utilising the court conditions in an ultimately comfortable 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 win in just 38 minutes.

Joining Rodriguez and Elshorbagy in the quarter-final will be No.8 seed Marwan Elshorbagy - Mohamed's brother - and world No.3 Mostafa Asal.

Elshorbagy junior, who has reached the quarter-finals three times before, played out an entertaining match against the USA's world No.30 Shahjahan Khan.

Khan, who played one of the biggest matches of his career, was excellent throughout and deservedly took a one game lead with an 11-8 win.

The Egyptian, though, was able to counter, finding his mark at the front with increasing frequency to move into the lead with an 11-7 and 11-9 wins.

Khan came back well to save three match balls and then level the tie with a 14-12 win in the fourth game, before world No.9 Elshorbagy brought an entertaining 80-minute match to an end with an 11-7 win in the fifth game.

Asal, meanwhile, overcame Egyptian compatriot Fares Dessouky 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 in a fiery encounter as he looked to carry the momentum of last season - in which he won his last two major tournaments of the year - into his first event of the new season.