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3
ENGLISH IN THE BRITISH OPEN FINALS FOR THE 1st TIME IN 64 YEARS!!! |
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[5] Laura Massaro (Eng)
3-2 [1] Nour El Sherbini
5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6 (63m)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) 3-1 [6] Nicol David (Mas)
11-8, 7-11, 13-11, 11-7 (56m)
[4]
Nick Matthew (Eng) 3-1 [1] Mohamed ElShorbagy
11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5 (75m)
[3] Gregory Gaultier
(Fra) 3-0 [5] Ramy Ashour
11-9 retired (20m)
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[5] Laura Massaro (Eng)
3-2 [1] Nour El
Sherbini 5-11, 7-11, 11-5,
11-3, 11-6 (63m)
 PSA
Reports
England’s No.1 Laura Massaro will appear in the final
of the iconic Allam British Open for the fourth time after she
mounted a stunning comeback against defending champion Nour
El Sherbini to send the home fans into raptures.
Massaro, the 2013 British Open champion, looked to be heading
out after an imperious start from El Sherbini saw the World No.1
go two games ahead inside 20 minutes. But Massaro, drawing on
the energy of a passionate home crowd, dug in resiliently and
swung the momentum of the match on it’s head to come through in
five and move to within one win of the iconic title.
Current World Champion El Sherbini, who last year became the
first female Egyptian to lift the sport’s oldest and most
distinguished title, had been virtually untroubled up to this
stage after claiming comfortable wins over Line Hansen, Annie Au
and Emily Whitlock.
England’s No.1 Massaro, meanwhile, claimed an impressive win
over World No.3 Raneem El Welily to reach the last four and the
33-year-old had a 5-3 lead over El Sherbini on their head-to-head
record – despite her defeat to the Egyptian in the final of last
year’s PSA Women’s World Championship.
El Sherbini started strongly, driving powerfully and dominating
the middle of the court as she took a two-game lead inside 20
minutes.
But Massaro began to feather in some delicate drops into the
front, bringing El Sherbini further up the court and taking
advantage of the available space as she began to dominate the
match, with a packed crowd getting behind the Lancastrian as she
closed out the victory by an 5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-3, 11-6
scoreline.
 I
felt I just needed to be positive myself, but do it in a way
that was from the right position. In those first two games, I
was trying to play from behind her a little bit and in the last
three games I tried to play in front of her.
When I’m moving well, I’m playing well. Against the Egyptians,
you can’t be at full stretch trying to touch drops in or mix
around at the front. They’re too nifty around the front, I can
normally tell if I’m playing well if my lobs are going well.
 I
felt a bit nervous when I came on in the fifth, my legs felt a
bit wobbly. I had a split second thought of whether it was
tiredness or nerves. At that point, I thought I’m back in with a
chance now as the tables turned, you’ve got nothing to lose
at 2-1 or 2-0 down.
I really wanted to do well this week, especially being at home.
There was a lot of pressure on me going into that fifth. They
say that the home crowd helps and when you’re down at the end
there, it definitely does.
[4]
Nick Matthew (Eng) 3-1 [1] Mohamed ElShorbagy
11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5 (75m)
 PSA
Reports
World No.4 Nick Matthew ensured a historic day for English
squash after he joined compatriots Laura Massaro and Sarah-Jane
Perry in tomorrow’s finals courtesy of a superb 3-1 win over
World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy – marking the first time since
1953 that England have provided three finalists across both the
Men’s and Women’s games.
Matthew hadn’t beaten ElShorbagy in a best-of-five match since
the 36-year-old became the oldest World Series title winner of
all time at the 2015 Windy City Open, but he put in a sublime
display to limit the Bristol-based Egyptian’s hard-hitting
style.
The Yorkshireman fought back from 8-6 and 7-3 down in the
opening two games to go 2-0 up, before ElShorbagy – sporting a
swollen eye after his quarter-final battle with World No.8 Ali
Farag – finally managed to gain some semblance of control in the
third as he edged it for the loss of eight points.
But the English veteran – roared on by his home crowd – found
his way back on top in the fourth and a delicate backhand drop
at match ball saw ‘The Wolf’ complete the victory to earn his
place in the final for the first time since 2014.
ElShorbagy’s defeat means the 26-year-old will lose his World
No.1 spot in next month’s rankings – with either World No.3
Gregory Gaultier or World Champion Karim Abdel Gawad set to
overtake him. Gaultier must lift the title to become the oldest
World No.1 of all-time, while Gawad will take top spot if
Matthew beats Gaultier in tomorrow’s final.
I was trying not
to let the adrenaline get to me, I could feel my heart beating
through my head knowing the crowd were cheering. You can get so
pumped, you can become over aroused. I knew I needed to have
aggression in my game against him. There was a patch in that
second game where he just got on top, it was like a boxer being
on the ropes.
I was conscious about getting into the middle of the ring, if
you were, and trading blows. I didn’t want to just go for the
big ‘Hayemakers’ and I really wanted to plot my way around him.
I felt him wavering at the end which gave me belief. Never mind
the World Rankings, I’m the World No.1 for my age. The peak is
about five years ago, but me and Greg are trying to rip up that
rulebook, we are always exchanging text messages saying stuff
like ‘there is still life in the old dog’.
I’ve not been in many World Series finals recently. I know what
I need to be doing, but it’s not always as easy as that. Once
you get to a certain age you know what it looks like, but in
many ways that makes it harder to implement.
[3]
Gregory Gaultier
(Fra) 3-0 [5] Ramy Ashour
11-9 retired (20m)
Ramy gives it back to Greg
Fram Reports
You all believe that Ramy is injured, but in fact, he is just
giving back the Free Pass to the Final Greg gave him for the
Worlds in Wadi Degla back in December.
Yes, of course I'm kidding.
I have to find reasons to smile. Because right now, I know that
Ramy doesn't need people looking at him with pity. He is the
first one to always state "Elhamdoulillah" after very hit life
seem to take a malignant pleasure bringing onto him.
So, let's smile people. And let Ramy handle his life/injury/calvary/crossToBear
the way he wishes to: like the fighter he is.
The last match we played was here last year and
we had an unbelievable five games.
I expected that we were going to have that kind of match today,
but when I saw him warming up he was doing a lot of stretches
and I could see that he was maybe getting ready.
But I could see in the first game, in the first few points, he
was struggling a little bit and he was going for quick points. I
just hope it’s not too bad because he’s been struggling for a
while now and hopefully he can play next week in El Gouna.
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[1]
Nour El Sherbini
3-0 [13] Emily Whitlock (Eng)
11-3, 11-4, 11-4 (23m)
[5]
Laura Massaro (Eng) 3-1 [3] Raneem El
Welily
11-3, 13-15, 11-6, 11-6 (47m)
[1]
Mohamed ElShorbagy
3-2 [7] Ali Farag
11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5 (82m)
[4]
Nick Matthew
(Eng) 3-2 [8] Tarek Momen
11-9, 10-12, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6 (82m)
[5] Ramy Ashour 3-2
Mohamed Abouelghar
10-12, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 (64m) |
 |
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[1]
Nour El Sherbini
3-0 [13] Emily Whitlock (Eng)
11-3, 11-4, 11-4 (23m)
 PSAReports
World No.1 Nour El Sherbini continued the defence of her Allam
British Open title with a comprehensive straight games victory
over Emily Whitlock in Hull’s Airco Arena to seal her semi-final
berth.
El Sherbini – who last year became the first Egyptian female
ever to win the iconic title – had beaten Line Hansen and Annie
Au to set up the quarter-final tie with English No.4 Whitlock,
who had reached the last eight at a World Series event for the
first time in her career after an impressive scalp over
compatriot and former World No.3 Alison Waters.
But El Sherbini – who beat fellow Egyptian Nouran Gohar in last
year’s final – was too hot to handle for Whitlock, forcing her
into several mistakes as she raced a game ahead in just seven
minutes.
Another seven minutes passed and the World Champion continued to
put Whitlock to the sword, taking a 2-0 lead having dropped just
seven points in total.
Blink and you would have missed the third as 21-year-old El
Sherbini took the final game 11-4 to book her place in the
semi-finals and move one step closer to retaining her title.
 I’m definitely
happy, I was playing well and all my shots were good.
I was really focused from the start of match, I didn’t want to
go into her game because she always slows the pace and loves to
drop, so I wanted to play with my game more. I think it worked,
so I am happy.
It’s good to be fresh and ready for tomorrow, but sometimes it’s
better to stay on court. I think I’ll look at it [the short
match] as an advantage. I just need to be ready for tomorrow, so
I’ve saved some energy.
We get used to upsets now, every tournament there is upsets, so
I’m not surprised anymore because anyone can beat anyone now.
The game is getting harder and challenging. I wasn’t thinking
about whether she’d beat Alison, I was just focusing on my game.
[5]
Laura Massaro (Eng) 3-1 [3] Raneem
El Welily
11-3, 13-15, 11-6, 11-6 (47m)
 PSAReports
World No.5 Laura Massaro gave her home fans at Hull’s
Airco Arena plenty to cheer about after the 2013 champion took a
step closer to the final after a strong performance against
World No.3 Raneem El Welily.
Massaro, who last year bowed out at the quarter-final stage, led
the head-to-head record between the two by 16 wins to El
Welily’s nine and the Lancastrian began brightly in a first-game
blitz, taking the ball early and volleying prolifically to go
one game up for the loss of 3 points.
The 33-year-old kept her onslaught up at the beginning of the
second, moving into a 6-3 lead, but El Welily stepped up the
court to take the ball on the volley with more regularity, and
the approach saw the Alexandrian reel Massaro back in to force a
tie-break.
Both players squandered two game balls in a tense ending to the
game, before El Welily finally converted at the third attempt to
draw level.
The duo hit their corners well in the third until Massaro
pulled away from 5-5 to restore her lead and, smelling the scent
of victory amidst some terrific boasting in the fourth, she
pressed on to close out an 11-3, 13-15, 11-6, 11-6 triumph –
which will see her lock horns with 2016 winner Nour El Sherbini
in a repeat of last year’s PSA Women’s World Championship final.
My plan against Raneem is always just to work
hard and try not give her too many angles.
We know each other’s games so much, it’s almost like trying to
second guess each other in a way. It’s just about going on there,
moving well, picking up well and hitting the ball well. Then you
can genuinely go on against anyone who is top four in the world
and see how the game progresses and pans out and whoever plays
the best on the day will come out on top.
I was pretty livid after the second, [husband and coach] Danny
[Massaro] and DP [coach David Pearson] were trying to calm me
down. I forgot that I was up so much in the second, but I knew I
definitely had a couple of game balls. I was really angry with
myself because, playing a player of that level, you just can’t
let leads slip.
It was a big quarter-final. It always feels like a big match
when you play Raneem, it definitely felt bigger than a
quarter-final.
[1]
Mohamed
ElShorbagy
3-2 [7] Ali Farag
11-8, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-5 (82m)
Mohamed's head is up and
back on the job
We are not going to dwell on the past three matches between
Mohamed and Ali. Suffice to say that once, Ali surprised Mohamed
in Detroit on a traditional court, followed by a match in the
quarters of Al-Ahram where a controversial pickup made the
headlines, leading to a “revenge match” in the Worlds in Cairo
back in December – Mohamed wining that match but with so much
testosterone and anger he was basically flat for his next match,
the semis against Gawad.
Since, both made peace – as it should be. It’s all a question of
respect, and accepting that some days, you can be not good
enough and accepting defeat as gracefully as possible, as the
next match will/should/could have another outcome. Or as the
English say “upwards and onwards”.
Today, Mohamed was back at his best: intense but not over the
top, focused but not angry nor revengeful. Every point was not
followed by a huge Yalllllla or/and with a fist pump directed at
his camp.
No. Just solid, fast and intense squash from the World number
one, that dominated the first game with his power and hard
hitting really, 6/4, 8/4, 95, and despite a few uncharacteristic
errors, Mohamed takes the first game 11/8 in 15m – hard work –
and it looks like Ali is not able to find any really solutions.
But Ali is one of those players that can absorb and transform
their opponent’s power to their own advantage. And that’s what
he did beautifully in the 2nd, close up to 6/6, finally forcing
Mohamed to play at his own pace, mid pace, up 9/7 for Ali,
Mohamed 9/9, and two great length, 11/9 in 17m.
And about the same scenario in the 3rd, close up to 7/8, then
10/7 Ali as he is absorbing and reading Mohamed’s game so
beautifully, 11/8, 16m.
Incredibly, Ali picks up where he left off, with the confidence
that comes from having beaten your opponent two out of three
last encounters: 8/4, 9/5. The world number 1 seems like he is
giving up after playing 5 tins in no time.
But Basma is sending him a subliminal message: Raise your head,
you are a champion. And it works. Ali just relaxes for a split
second, and finds himself game ball down, 10/9!
A few decisions at this point, but squash is played in good
spirit. Mohamed’s length is impeccable, Ali is getting very
little to work with and on his second game ball, he takes the
16m game, 12/10.
If Ali starts well the 5th, Mohamed is now believing again he
can do it, and has found the same intensity and ferocious
hitting he had in the 1st. Ali is now unable to contain the
Alexandria Champ, and from 5/5, Mohamed is soaring high, very
high, scoring the following 6 points, playing that same squash
that led him to lead the World for the past two years….
I felt like I’m kind of having a bad period
this season, but I feel like this period is turning out to be
one of the greatest periods of my life.
At 9-4 down, I felt like I was giving up a little bit, then I
looked at my mother and she gave me a look which told me not to
go down like that and that it wasn’t the kind of body language
you go out on court with.
So I thought, ok I’ll fight, whether I lose or whether I win, I
wanted to go out with no regrets. Of course that’s not the
reason why I won from 2-1 down and 9-4 down, he had to help me
little bit of course.
He lost a little bit of focus maybe because he thought I gave up
with my body language. All of a sudden I changed gear, pushed
myself and started fighting again. It can sometimes mess with
your opponent’s head.
It was one of the best times I’ve seen him play and it was by
far the best match I have played this season.
We were congratulating each other on playing a great match. I
thought it was played in great spirit, we might have had our
issues in the past, but because of how much we pushed each other,
it made us have so much respect for each other at the end of the
match.
When we were shaking hands, we were both looking at each other
knowing that we’d pushed each other point by point. We were both
thinking the same way, that this is the way we’re going to kill
each other for the rest of our careers.
For me, the rankings don’t matter, they’re far from my mind
right now. I’ve been World number 1 for the last 28 months,
whether I lose it or keep it, I’ve lived every single second of
it and enjoyed every single second of it.
If I keep it for longer, it’s a bonus, if I don’t, I’ve already
done it. For me, this is not about keeping the ranking, not
about winning the British Open, it’s about playing like a winner
and that’s what I’ve been doing since I played that fifth game
against Dessouky.
[4]
Nick Matthew (Eng) 3-2 [8] Tarek
Momen
11-9, 10-12, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6 (82m)
Tarek doesn’t believe, Nick
does….
Fram Reports
Funny how you sometimes get an epiphany after wondering for
years why a player just clips the tin at the same moment of each
game/match he/she plays. The common explanation is “he/she is
going for too much because his/her opponent is retrieving so
well. Yes. That’s what I wrote again and again.
But what if in the case of Tarek in particular – as I happen to
know the boy since like forever – it was actually a question of
doubting himself and his squash, more than actually what his
opponent does or doesn’t do?
Tarek is one of those terribly gifted player – like his wife –
that happen to clip the tin, again and again and again at
crucial times. Why would he go for that shot at that time, when
a simpler shot would have suffice as the work had been done and
the set up leading to a winner? Because Tarek just doesn’t
believe his squash is good enough. I know, he doesn’t believe
me. But I truly believe I am right on this one….
Anyway, moving on, with The Alien Nick Matthew still raging and
kicking and taking no prisoner. Nick’s relentlessness gets into
his opponents mind, under their skin. And they really feel
helpless, that there is not solution, that they won’t be able to
kill him off. And you know what? They are right. Very few people
on his earth have managed to do so!
Helped with a few tins from Tarek at crucial times, 9/6 (3 in a
row), Nick zooms and takes the 14m opener, 11/9. Good response
from Tarek, daring more attacking with more margins, 4/1, then
very close 4/4, 5/5, 6/6, 7/7, 8/8, 9/9. Nick sees his game ball
disappear when a let is overturned as no let, followed by
another no let and a tin, 12/10 for the Egyptian.
Nick is back in complete control in the 3rd, 3/1, 6/3, 9/5, tin,
tin, 11/6 Nick, only to see the Egyptian taking the English by
the throat and not letting go 7/2, 8/3, tin tin tin bless him,
11/7, to get to a decider.
And in comes The Alien again, out of nowhere in the 5th, fresh
as an English Rose, 6/1, 8/4, 11/6 in 13m. Incredible accuracy,
tightness, don’t start me on his lob. And if some people thought
that Nick was not at his best in this game, well, I dread to see
what he is going to do when he is on his game!!!!
It was like a rollercoaster, he’s that type of
player you’ve got to stay consistent against because he’s going
to have his periods where he plays incredible and then makes
mistakes,” revealed Matthew.
I saw Laura’s game earlier and I was inspired by her getting
through. The crowd were great supporting her, but I didn’t give
them that much to cheer about in terms of my positive play.
Hopefully I’ll get a bit more of that tomorrow with them right
behind me.
I just focus on my own stuff and let that take care of itself.
Obviously we’re very proud to represent England, but every time
I step on court I’m representing myself, my family, my club, my
city, Yorkshire, England and everything else.
I heard Charlotte crying when I was 8-5 up and getting a bit
tense, but it really relaxed me for the last few points. It made
me remember life is more important than a game of squash. I was
chasing after her for my warm down, she’s a character and she’s
brilliant, that sort of stuff is more important than squash.
Good luck to all the guys playing for World No.1, but I’ve
literally not given it a second thought, it’s nothing to do with
me. I’ve had my time there and whoever gets the World No.1
position, at any stage, they always fully deserve it.
It was an amazing feeling walking on court being the World No.1
and if Karim goes for it good luck to him, but Mohamed isn’t
going to give it away easily. Greg wants to be the oldest number
one, which is a bit of sub-plot.
[5]
Ramy Ashour
3-2 Mohamed Abouelghar
10-12, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 (64m)
Ramy Weathered
the NickStorm…
Fram's Reports
Abou started the match against the Artist exactly where he
left affairs off yesterday.
Playing sublime winners, Abou just couldn’t put a racquet wrong.
Pushing and turning Ramy in the four corner, he didn’t mind the
good lengths and the deep crosscourt the former World Champ kept
throwing at him. A bit like against Gawad in the worlds, Ramy
was outplayed for the first two games, although the first game
was truly close 2/2 , 4/4, 6/6, 7/7, a little edge for Abou,
9/7, 9/9 says Ramy, 10/9, a rare tin offers Ramy a life line,
10/10
Abou finds a winner than a first dive from Ramy can’t save – bad
news when the Artist starts throwing himself all over the place,
as he tries and protect his bionic leg – and a tin give Abou a
13m first game.
The second is dominated more frankly by the Zamalek Player from
5/5, number of unforced errors steady for both players, 3 each
in that game. But Ramy making the error as he set up an “easy”
winner to close up the rallies he worked so hard to set up.
Frustrated, the Artist can’t do anything to stop the Magical
Touch from Abou to go 2/0, 11m, 11/7.
The third is even more worrying for the Ashour Fans, as from 5/3
up, Ramy tins 3 shots in a row, Abou truly magnificent, up 7/5,
and 9/6. But two errors at that point offer a bit of oxygen tent
to Ramy, when from 9/9 finds two winners, 11/9, 13m.
The fourth is a bit of a game Ramy used to play when he would
atomise his opponents: out of the blue, the Artist finds winners
all over the place: accurate, incisive, tight squash and quick
rallies, he forces 6 errors out of Abou’s raquet, 11/5.
The 5th sees a Ramy as fresh as out of bed really. Springing all
over the court, he zooms up to 6/2. Abou claws in, and shoots a
few superb winners again, 4/6, 5/7. But Ramy is too fresh
physically while Abou is tinning the shots that used to find the
nicks, and it’s the end of the NickStorm, 11/5.
Ramy is in the semis of the BO, like last year, against Gregory
Gaultier…
 I’m just going through the match in my head
right now, it was a very interesting match, it went back and
forth, I cannot stress enough how AMAZING he played. He wasn’t
just playing like any normal day, he wasn’t playing like any
normal player, he was playing extraordinary.
I was a bit sleepy and lazy, but when I watched what he was
doing closely I started to understand what he was doing then I
could capitalise. I had a plan and a couple of strategies and
one of them worked.
He was slamming every ball in the nick, it takes a lot for
someone to take me out of my rhythm and my momentum. He did that
in the first two games because first of all he was playing
amazing but I wasn’t on it mentally, I didn’t have that
explosive edge.
There was a lot of tactics happening out there, there was a lot
of different strategies that I used and I had to pay attention
carefully and closely to what he was doing.
I knew what to expect from him but that’s not normal, that’s not
every day squash. He can’t play like that every time, eventually
when you play like that you run out of nicks and deceptions. He
was very close to winning, I had to do something. I’m glad I
played smartly rather than spontaneous or impulsive, I wanted to
keep hitting the ball and running around but that wasn’t the
right strategy.
It’s such a tough sport, we say this all the time, but we have
to keep saying it, the amount of mental effort you do on court,
tells a lot about you really. What you do on court. If you count
the number of lunges we do on court, in the four corners, and
for each point, each point, that a lot of lunging.
The good thing is that we burn a lot of calories, so we can have
a good dinner, and that’s something I like…
Matches like this really motivate me a lot, give me a lot of
confidence, and it shows me how I am. I just feel I get more
confidence getting through that kind of matches: in my body, in
my mental ability.
Squash is a very intriguing sport. A lot of people ask me “what
are you thinking about when you are on court?". I’m just
thinking about the sport. I think about how hard it is, how much
I have to push, and how much I have to be stronger than this.
Sometimes, I just forget that I have somebody with me on court.
It’s nothing disrespectful. I just zone out, it’s a lot of work!
I cannot handle having someone else on court, there is so much
happening in my head already, I cannot think about someone else…
Greg never gets any hard games before the semi-finals, he is
normally very dominant in the first couple of rounds and it
gives him an edge because he is in better body shape.
Everybody wants to win the British Open, it doesn’t get bigger
than that, I’ll do my best tomorrow, may the better player win,
we’ll see how it goes.
Obviously I’m not in 100% condition I’ve played a couple of
tough matches, I’ll try to recover the best I can and see how it
goes tomorrow.
 |
Who Played Who - H2H W
Who Played Who - H2H M
 |
|
 |
[5] Laura Massaro (Eng) 3-0 [Q]
Mayar Hany 11-5, 11-1, 11-9
(29m)
[1]
Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0
Daryl Selby (Eng) 12-10,
11-4, 11-7 (37m)
[3]
Raneem El Welily
3-0
[12] Joshna Chinappa (Ind) 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (27m)
[15] Donna
Urquart (Aus) 3-2 [Q] Nada Abbas
8/11, 11/3, 11/8, 6/11, 11/1 (46m)
[2]
Camille Serme (Fra) 3-1 [11] Nour El
Tayeb
11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9 (54m)
[8]
Tarek Momen
3-0 Paul Coll (Nzl)
11-6, 11-9, 20-18 (62m)
[1]
Nour El Sherbini
3-0 [10] Annie Au (Hkg)
11-4, 11-8, 11-6 (25m)
[7]
Ali Farag
3-0 [Q] Tsz Fung Yip (Hkg)
11-8, 11-2, 11-9 (30m)
[5]
Ramy Ashour
3-0 Diego Elias (Per)
11-9, 11-6, 12-10 (42m)Mohamed
Abouelghar 3-1 [2] Karim Abdel
Gawad 6-11, 12-10, 11-9, 11-7
(64m) |
|
 |
[15]
Donna
Urquart (Aus) 3-2 [Q] Nada Abbas
8/11, 11/3, 11/8, 6/11, 11/1 (46m)
PSA Reports
 16-year-old
Egyptian qualifier Nada Abbas was prevented from adding
to her shock defeat of 2016 runner-up Nouran Gohar in the
opening round after a narrow defeat to World No.18 Donna
Urquhart to five games in round two.
Urquhart admitted she knew ‘absolutely nothing’ about Abbas
after learning that she would be facing her in round two, but
Abbas put in a strong display to signal the arrival of another
potential Egyptian star.
The encounter was Abbas’ first competitive match on the glass
court in her burgeoning career and she started from where she
left off against Gohar, taking the first game after forcing
Urquhart into several errors.
30-year-old Urquhart managed to regain control by taking the
second and third, but Abbas – who is ranked World No.45 –
wouldn’t go down without a fight and battled back, taking the
fourth to set up an intriguing decider in the fifth.
But Urquhart’s class and experience showed as she
comprehensively took the fifth 11-1 to advance through to the
quarter-finals stage for the first time since 2009, where she
will meet World No.8 Sarah-Jane Perry.
Speaking after her victory, Urquhart said: “I know now she’s a
tough little competitor, her style is to try and hit it really
hard and she likes that fast pace.
 I
needed to try and control the pace, slow it down, mix it up a
bit more and not get sucked into playing that hard, fast pace
which suited her more.
There was a little doubt in my mind because anything can happen
in a fifth game, especially because I felt like I wasn’t playing
well at that point so I was a bit
worried. I knew I could improve a lot from the fourth game, I
knew I was better than that and I guess it really went my way in
the fifth.
Maybe my experience came into it at the end there, I don’t know
if she was nervous in that fifth game so maybe my experience
helped me get over the line today.
“I never felt nervous, even given the fact she had beaten the
World No.4, Gohar. I know it was completely different conditions
at the [University of Hull Sports and Fitness Centre] to today.
I didn’t go into today with any nerves I just went out and
played my game.
[2]
Camille
Serme (Fra) 3-1 [11] Nour El Tayeb
11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 11-9 (54m)
Steve Cubbins reports
The Frenchwoman started well, leading 5-1, but had to fight back
from 5-7 to take the lead. She closed out a tight second, but
Tayeb came out strongly to reduce the deficit.
Serme led through most of the fourth, but at 9-8 a conduct
stroke was given to Tayeb, after her crosscourt from the back
had hit Serme’s racket.
Rewind: in the third game Tayeb had smacked Serme on the leg
from the back of the court. A stroke was awarded but Tayeb
insisted a let be played.
 At
the end of the fourth the referee siad it had to be a stroke to
Tayeb, or a conduct stroke against her because she had “played
across” her opponent. He opted for the latter, and the score was
10-8 match ball rather than 9-all.
Tayeb saved one, but Serme took the second on a stroke. The
players stayed on court talking for a while after, no doubt
discussing the ‘incident’.
2015 champion Camille Serme overcame World No.13 Nour El
Tayeb despite a contentious end to their second round match in
Hull’s Airco Arena.
Serme was 2-1 up and 9-8 up in the fourth, when a cross-court
effort from El Tayeb struck Serme’s racket – resulting in a
controversial conduct stroke being awarded against the Egyptian
player to hand Serme match ball.
World No.2 Serme then converted at the second attempt to set up
a quarter-final meeting with five-time winner Nicol David – a
player who Serme has never beaten in 15 attempts.
 To
be honest I’m relieved to be through. I’m not really sure what
happened on court [at the end], I need to see the match again to
really see what happened. She came to me and asked why I didn’t
offer a let like she did [earlier on in the match].
But it was a different situation, to be honest, I think that she
gave that let because she was 7-3 up, and it is easier to give a
let when you’re winning, rather than 9-8 in the fourth.
I’m very happy to be through, but I don’t know how I managed to
get that win. I was trying to get in front of her and play a bit
faster, she responded well to playing even tighter, so I
couldn’t volley anymore.
“I’ve never beaten Nicol. To be honest, I knew I had a tough
draw, I didn’t want to look any further than this second round.
I’m going to enjoy it and be more relaxed on court, I’m very
much ready to get that first win over Nicol.
[5] Ramy
Ashour
3-0 Diego Elias (Per)
11-9, 11-6, 12-10 (42m)
Ramy Focused and Relentless
Fram reports
 If
in Chicago, Ramy appeared troubled and not as fit as he would
have liked, in Hull, the brain and the body seem in check.
Having trimmed down and tactically spot on, Ramy put his
opponent through the Egyptian Mill, but Diego replied shot for
shot and helped Ramy to check if his body was in running –
literally – order!!!
First game, rallies are long and intense. Ramy is patient, so is
Diego, 2/2, 3/3, a great succession of winners for the Peruvian,
and it’s /63 for Diego. Back to 6/6, 8/8 – thanks to a few
errors from Diego (4 against 3 for Ramy). Ramy takes the opener
in 13m, 11/9 on his second game ball.
Second is dominated by the Egyptian, 5/2, 7/4, 9/5, 11/6 but
more errors from Ramy, 4, only 3 for Diego, but a superb
“Shabana-like” tactic for Ramy, deep, relentless, not going for
too much but still keeping the pressure. Not flashy as he was
about 4, 5 years ago. Just solid, intense and gruelling. 11/6 in
10m.
The third, Ramy shows signs of tiredness – I know, that’s not
usual – but it could only be lack of match fitness. Diego smells
blood and truly show the lights of the shining star he’s soon
going to be, pushing Ramy to the core, 4/4, 5/5, 6/6, 7/7, 8/8.
10/8 game ball for Peru, but out of nowhere, The Artist soars on
court, dispatching winner after winner and it’s 12/10 Ramy in
15m.
Best news for Ramy’s supporters: not a stretch. Not a dive.
That’s good. Very good.
 It’s
good to be back playing the British Open, it’s a lot of
pressure, it’s a big tournament, everybody wants to win it. I’m
just glad to be around.
I played Chicago two weeks ago, I lost against Rosner in the
first round, but I was happy with my performance. Today, I had
reached the second round, this is progress…
I came out today knowing he was going to come out firing without
any pressure. He really played well. He pushed me all over the
court and was on top of me in the last game and if I was not
moving well, I wouldn’t have been able to play like I did.
I didn’t want this one to go to four or five, so I had to
squeeze everything out to get those last couple of points.
Trouble when you are injured is that only one part of your body
is injured, not the other parts. So I try and keep my body
moving. It’s mentally very challenging of course. You have to
stay focus. The worst part for me when I get injured is the
weight. I love food, I love Nutella, I love desserts. That’s the
hardest part.
On top of that, there is a mental discipline how, when you are
injured, can you do everything right and stay disciplined when
you are injured. And I guess I succeed at that part, I really
contain myself, and I have to succeed, otherwise, I would go
nuts.
 When
I get injured, I play with my left hand a lot, I spend a lot of
time on court, it’s good to have a good relationship with the
court, with the four corners, staying and spending a lot of time
on the court. That’s where I feel the most relaxed, the most “myself”,
when I’m playing, when I’m fighting, when I’m thinking, am I
going to be able to come back. There are only so many years I
can be on court: I’ll have to find another court outside this
court to be good at…
Last year, all the way to the final, the matches were tough on
my body. That gives me a lot of confidence because my body can
handle more than I think.
I’m trying to step it up, I just want to be like the other
players, I want to play every tournament. I want to get to that
level, but I don’t want to be stupid about it by keep playing
tournaments not knowing the limits of my body.
It’s about finding the right balance, it takes time and you’ve
got to be smart. It takes a lot of trial and error, so the aim
for me now is to just stay in the game. It’s an amazing sport, I
just want to be a part of it.
Too much pressure for Gawad
Fram reports
 I
often quote James Willstrop "Squash is such a mental game it's a
joke". And never more than tonight, we've seen the damage/power
that mind can play on players minds.
Karim was not the Karim we know tonight. That boy who is
normally more laid back than a whole town of Australians was
tense as a violin cord. Disputing decisions, showing signs of
frustration, that's not the Karim we've seen time and time again
under tremendous pressure.
Why? Number 1 spot, that's why. Had he won the match, Karim
would have dethroned Mighty Shorbagy - who gets to live another
month and probably more as number 1. And I truly do not believe
Karim was ready for it. Willing yes. Ready mentally to be at the
top and having every single player on the planet gluing a dart
board on his back? I don't think so.
Karim has come up the rankings slowly, but surely. We all knew
how good he was, for years - a bit like Abou really - but his
fitness was not up to the top rankings. world Champ? Fine.
Beating Mohamed twice in a row, and Ramy in the final of the
World. OK. But world number 1? "Do I deserve it?" "Am I good
enough". "Can I take the pressure?"
Now, let's put things back into perspective. Karim's body has
not been at his best for a few months now, and the World Champ
has been running on fumes for a long time. Add to that a very
heavy cold/flew, and you are a Karim not at his best, but with a
golden racquet and magical tactics.
 In
front of him, Mr Tin Abouelghar. Joke, absolutely ridiculous
skills, squashwise but a magnet attraction for the Tin, making
him lose so many matches he should/could have won. times and
times again. And the knowledge that last time those two played,
Abou only lost 11/9 in the 5th, that was in the WD World in
Cairo, back in December 2016.
Tonight, Abou was in the "RIDICULOUS OUTRAGEOUS SKILLS" mode. He
atomised Karim from the second game on, going for his shots that
normally end in the tin, and today died in the nick, again, and
again, and again. He also hit extremely hard, taking time away
from a Karim that was a bit on the weak side physically,
preventing the World Champ to take his breath back, varying
angles, power, height.. Incredible performance. At all level.
Karim was on the back foot from the second onwards, while Abou
not only was on the war path, but as good as he ever was, as
good as we always knew he could be.
Incredible, astonishing match from Abou, who finally, finally
reaches the level of squash he deserves. The level of squash WE
deserve from him. Such a gift. SUCH A GIFT.
Do. Not. Spoil it. Ever. Again.
 We
train day in, day out for four hours a day, we’re sharing a room
this week and we’re best friends.
I try to maintain my game, if I’m going for winners I’ll just
keep going, if it’s not coming off and I keep hitting the tin, I
have to change my plan, but luckily today it worked.
I know it was a very big deal for Karim, if he’d have won he’d
have become the World No.1 and I think that relaxed me a lot. I
had nothing to lose, I just wanted to go out, enjoy my squash
and prove something for myself.
It was mixed feelings for me. I really wanted him to become
World No.1 because I know how hard he works, but on the other
side I wanted to win. I was thinking about that before the
match, but as soon as I went in, I didn’t think about anything
other than winning.
I believe in myself, but I am playing against the very top guys.
I have no pressure and I’m enjoying my squash.
 |
|
 |
|
 |
[1]
Nour El Sherbini
3-0 [10] Annie Au (Hkg) 11-4,
11-8, 11-6 (25m)
PSA Reports
 World
No.1 and defending champion Nour El Sherbini cruised
through to the quarter-finals of the 2017 Allam British Open
with a comfortable straight games victory over Hong Kong’s
Annie Au. World No.12 Au had no reply to El Sherbini’s
dominance as the 21-year-old displayed an impressive array of
long and short shots, which cut out the tireless work of a
determined Au.
The match lasted just 25 minutes as El Sherbini raced into a 2-0
lead, despite a mini-comeback from Au late in the second, but
the number one seed finished off the match with consummate ease
by powering to victory in the third game.
The Egyptian goes on to face England’s Emily Whitlock –
who scalped former World No.3 Alison Waters – and will no doubt
be looking to upset the home crowd as she bids to continue her
march towards a second successive British Open crown.
 It
doesn’t always look as comfortable from outside the court, but I
feel like I was playing well. I was ahead of her the whole match
and that’s given me the win in the end. Maybe in the middle I
lost some concentration, when I have a big lead then I’d lose a
few points, but I played better than yesterday [against Line
Hansen] so that’s good for me.
I didn’t watch Emily's match but I was surprised that she won,
that is a good win for her and it’s the first time she’s got
past the second round and she definitely deserved it. We grew up
together in the juniors, but we never played each other, I think
we’ve only played once on the PSA World Tour about four years
ago. It’s weird that we never practise or trained together so
I’m excited for the match.
I’m doing my best to retain my British Open Title, I’m just
focusing on every match and once I finish it, I go through it
step by step. I think that’s better for me, I want to win this
title as I haven’t won a title so far this year, so I am going
to do my best.
[5]
Laura Massaro (Eng) 3-0 [Q] Mayar Hany
11-5, 11-1, 11-9 (29m)
PSA Reports
 2013 British Open champion Laura Massaro booked her place
in the quarter-finals of the sport’s longest-running tournament
for an eighth successive year after beating 20-year-old
qualifier Mayar Hany in straight games in round two.
World No.33 Hany went into the match full of confidence after
upsetting the odds in the opening round by knocking out World
No.11 Joelle King, and the Egyptian started brightly as she
quickly established a 4-1 lead.
But she wasn’t ahead for long, with World No.5 Massaro finding
her rhythm and taking the first in the process, before blitzing
into a 10-0 lead in the second, eventually winning it 11-1.
Hany battled well in third and threatened to mount a comeback,
but made a few too many errors to prevent Massaro from wrapping
up the win in three games.
She came out quite attacking and it took me a
few rallies to calm things down a little bit. I needed to get
some longer rallies into the game, she gave me a few errors to
help me get momentum in the first. In the second I just tried to
get on the volley, take the ball early and just keep the pace
really high.
I was breathing heavy at the end, so she must have been. She
didn’t come off court after the second, so I thought she was
going to be firing on all cylinders, and fair play to her she
changed the plan a little bit.
She started staying in the rallies with me a little bit longer.
It’s what you’d expect when you’ve beaten someone 11-1, they
aren’t just going to keep doing the same thing. I was proud of
myself for coming through that in the end.
It’s really nice to play in front of a home crowd, it really
does pick you up. We get that against us everywhere we play in
the world, so it’s nice to have that on our side and hopefully
the crowd can really get into the quarter-finals.
[3]
Raneem El Welily 3-0
[12] Joshna Chinappa (Ind) 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (27m)
 Egyptian
shot-making sensation Raneem El Welily earned her place
in the last eight courtesy of a win in three games against
Indian No.1 Joshna Chinappa.
The pair traded points in a series of short rallies, with El
Welily having the better in all three games as she hit some
sumptuous winners to claim her fifth win in six matches against
Chinappa – whose sole victory came in a first round upset in the
2015 Qatar Classic.
El Welily is now three wins away from claiming a share of the
lucrative $150,000 prize purse, which is equal to that on offer
in the Men’s event for the first time in the tournament’s
distinguished history.
 Equal
prize money is great for the sport. This is one of the few
sports to do that and I’m proud to be part of such a great
organisation. As a female player, I couldn’t be more pleased.
I’m in a place where I think so much about my game and I’ve been
talking a lot lately with my coaches and have had a lot to work
on.
That’s helped me mentally and it keeps me motivated to try and
apply what I’ve been working on instead of just walking onto
court and then starting to think about my game.”
[8] Tarek
Momen
3-0 Paul Coll (Nzl) 11-6, 11-9, 20-18
(62m)
 MONENATOR
ON FIRE!!!
Fram Reports
What a pleasure to see Tarek at the
top of his game against a player he has a few bad memories with!
Even if he won in Qatar against Paul, 17/15 in the 5th, it was a
painful match, that cost him to lose the next one, against
Grégoire Marche again in a 5 setter over 90m.
You add to that another painful loss in the Channel Val final
back in December, and you have a mentally nervous Egyptian.
 Tarek
played superb squash truly today. He took the weapons – physical
– out of Paul’s racquet, accepted to play at times some very
long, gruelling, mid pace, rallies, to then push the incredible
New Zealander into fast pace battles, wrong footing him again
and again with his trademark backhand volley flick that Paul
just couldn’t read today.
If the match looked “won” as the Egyptian came back from 6-0 and
7/2 down to take the second 11/9, leading 2/0, it got more
complicated in the 3rd!
Nothing between the players up to 5/5, Paul playing some sublime
fast reflex squash, 9/6, 10/7. Cut a very very very long story
short – 31m 3rd game – Paul had 8 game balls, but it’s finally,
finally Tarek that clinches his 4th match ball, 20/18.
Raneem was calm, composed throughout, and never in doubt.
 I can’t call that
a 3/0 victory, the last game alone was two games and a half! I
didn’t think it was going to end, but I’ve had experience with
those types of games against Paul.
It seems like every time I play Paul, that’s the situation! I
remember the first time we played in Qatar, 17/15 in the 5th,
over a hundred minutes, it was ridiculous. And all the way
through the 3rd game, I was only thinking about that match, and
how it was just a replica of that match…
I felt I was more disciplined throughout the whole match, and,
then, towards the end, when you see the finish line, you just
want to end it, and I sort of change my game, I was more opened
to play any shot, I think I made a few errors as well, some
really good winners.
He seemed to get better and better every minute, and I was keen
on finishing it in three games, otherwise he would have come
back in the 4th, and play better and better, and who knows what
might have happened. So I was so glad to finish it in three
games.
I’m a kind of a random person. As a kid, I used to struggle a
bit physically, I was much weaker than the other kids, and I
used to use my flicks to my advantage, and I wasn’t that good at
my basic game. So I had to make up for it with my short game:
that’s how I built up my game. As a senior, I had to develop my
basic game, of course, but my short game is still predominant…
I knew what to expect and it was very important I won the third.
Paul has been a rising star on the PSA World Tour and he’s
become the person to beat because he’s physically unbelievable.
He’s so fit, his reach is ridiculous he gets to every ball and
now he has a really good touch to the front corners and a very
good basic game.
So you have to play really, really well to beat him. I was
pleased with how I played throughout the whole match.
[On Matthew vs Rosner] Every player in the top 20 is hard to
crack, obviously they’re a bit different, they’re not as fast as
these guys but have so much experience and skills on the court.
It will be a difficult game but I am looking forward to it.
[7]
Ali Farag
3-0 [Q] Tsz Fung Yip (Hkg)
11-8, 11-2, 11-9 (30m)
A GAME OF THREE HALVES…
Bit of a weird one that was between Ali Farag – who has realised
he can hit the ball hard, Elhamdulillah, and Hong Kong strong
coming up player, Tsz Fung Yip.
First game, pretty tight, good run for both, mid pace with Ali
attacking nicely, but Yip keeping in sight. But when he came
back, basically, nobody showed up on court! Ali manoeuvred him
completely, always in front of him, dispatching the shots as
Easter Bunny with Chocolate, and Yip, very passive, looking like
injured or just outplayed.
And Ali picked up where he left in the 3rd, 6/0, 7/1, to
slightly relax and let the Hong Kong player put his foot in the
door. That was enough. We suddenly had a match on our hands,
great rallies out of nowhere, Ali under pressure, and Yip
playing finally the squash we know he can play!
A very close finish, 8/8, 9/9, with Yip clipping his shot at
9/9, Ali only too happy to finish – with a superb neverending
rally, stunning squash on match ball – 11/9 Ali…
 He
didn’t go down without a fight, especially in the first, I think
he was dominating most of it. I never
really settled in that first, he holds
the ball very well, I was struggling to get my ball deep in the
back, and trying to attack, and dominate the T area, trying to
volley, I was always on my toes. But I managed to stay with him,
he gave me a few errors, for which I’m very grateful for.
Nour told me between games to try and stay as sharp as
possible, not to hit the shots randomly, to try and reach the
corners, and it worked in the 2nd.
In the third, it worked up to 7/1 or something, then I relaxed a
little bit, and he is not a person you want to do that against.
I’m just very happy to win, I think a shift of momentum could
have happened if he’d have won that first game. He definitely
played the better squash, but I just stayed with him and
thankfully squeezed three errors out of him in the last few
points so the first game made a big difference.
He is very hard to read, most of the Asian players move very
well and it’s hard to get them out of phase, they have good
rhythmic movement. He also moves the ball around very well, he
holds the ball from everywhere, the front and the back, so I
could never really settle on the ’T’ which made it difficult for
me throughout the match.
Every tournament I come to I try to win it, there isn’t a reason
to come if I don’t want to win it. Obviously, I take it match by
match, game by game and point by point. I put my best into every
point as if it was the last point of the match and hopefully it
will pay off.
I have loved it here since I was very young. I know it is
cliché, but the British Open is the most prestigious tournament.
It’s a dream for anyone to play in it.
I’ve only came to this event, once, last year. I managed to
reach the quarters as well, and to reach it again is a pleasure.
And hopefully, 1, 2, 3 more to go….
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0
Daryl Selby (Eng) 12-10,
11-4, 11-7 (37m)
 PSA Reports
World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy continued his efforts to
add a third British Open title to his collection after he halted
Englishman Daryl Selby – avenging his first round defeat
to the 34-year-old in December’s Channel VAS Championship.
A patient, composed display from Selby saw him repel
ElShorbagy’s attempts to ramp up the pace, and the World No.15
held two game balls in the opener after a couple of cross court
nick attempts from the Egyptian landed on the top of the tin.
But ElShorbagy, who beat compatriot Ramy Ashour in last year’s
final, came out on top of some high-quality exchanges at the
back end of game one, with some chest-thumping bravado helping
him to take four straight points to go ahead.
That seemed to wake the 26-year-old up and he soon doubled his
lead for the loss of four points, before Selby finally found a
foothold in the match once more to go 3-0 up in the third.
But ElShorbagy moved back up through the gears as the momentum
swung back in his favour and he took the match 12-10, 11-4, 11-7
in 37 minutes to reach the last eight.
 That’s
the hunger I used to have when I was climbing up the rankings.
When I got to No.1, I wanted to win everything, which I haven’t,
so I am still hungry. I was pumping myself after every point, I
wasn’t angry with anyone else just myself, I told Daryl it
wasn’t about him, it was me. I was happy to see him playing well,
that’s nice for him.
I played the way I love to play, aggressive, hard, patient and
varying the shots when I needed to. I’m just really happy I did
everything I needed to do today.
Everything went perfectly for me, I’m just really happy, it felt
more like me, like the way I used to play. I play hard and
aggressive, a lot of people misunderstand that and they think
that is not a nice way to play the game, but that’s the way I am
and the way I play.
 |
|
21st March -
First Round
[1]
Nour El Sherbini
3-0 Line Hansen (Den)
11-5, 11-7, 11-3 (21m)
[8] Alison Waters (Eng) 3-0 Mariam
Metwally
11-5, 7-2 retired (12m)
[Q] Mayar Hany 3-1 [9]
Joelle King (Nzl)
7-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (42m)
[3]
Raneem El Welily
3-0 [WC] Fiona Moverley (Eng) 13-11,
11-7, 11-6 (27m)
[Q]
Nada Abbas
3-1 [4] Nouran Gohar
12-10, 14-12, 5-11, 11-8 (45m)
Tesni Evans (Wal) 3-0 [16] Salma Hany
Ibrahim
11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (38m)
[11] Nour El Tayeb 3-0 [Q]
Samantha Teran (Mex)
11-3, 11-7, 11-4 (18m)
[2] Camille Serme (Fra) 3-0 [Q]
Hania El Hammamy 11-9, 12-10, 11-3
(34m)
[1]
Mohamed ElShorbagy
3-2 Fares Dessouky 11-8, 10-12,
11-7, 8-11, 11-8 (93m)
[7]
Ali Farag
3-1 Ryan Cuskelly (Aus)
11-9, 11-1, 9-11, 11-1 (54m)
[8]
Tarek Momen
3-0 [Q] Alan Clyne (Sco)
11-7, 11-8, 11-3 (35m)
Max Lee (Hkg) 3-2 [6] Marwan
ElShorbagy
5-11, 7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (61m)
[5] Ramy Ashour 3-0
[Q] Zahed Mohamed
11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (29m)
Mohamed Abouelghar 3-1 [Q]
Charles Sharpes (Eng) 11-3, 5-11, 11-5, 11-6 (41m)
[2]
Karim Abdel Gawad
3-2 Omar Mosaad
13-11, 6-11, 11-2, 5-11, 11-6 (72m)
|
 |
|
[1]
Nour El Sherbini
3-0 Line Hansen (Den)
11-5, 11-7, 11-3 (21m)
PSAReports
Defending champion Nour El Sherbini began her 2017 Allam
British Open campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over
Pregnant Denmark’s Line Hansen – coming through in just 21
minutes.
El Sherbini looked comfortable as she eased her way into the
tournament to set down a marker for the rest of the week.
I feel like I’m playing well and I’m looking
forward to seeing how it goes this week.
Winning here last year was very big for me. But I’m trying not
to think about being the defending champion – I’m trying to just
win the title again.
I haven’t won a tournament for a while but I’m happy with how
I’m playing and I’m pleased to back towards some of my best
form.
[Q] Nada
Abbas
3-1 [4] Nouran Gohar
12-10, 14-12, 5-11, 11-8 (45m)
Last year’s British Open runner-up Nouran Gohar fell to a
shock defeat in the opening round of the 2017 instalment after
she succumbed to 16-year-old Egyptian qualifier Nada Abbas.
Abbas, a two-time PSA World Tour title winner, counteracted
Gohar’s trademark hard-hitting style brilliantly, with the World
No.45 slowing the pace right down and controlling the ball well
at the front of the court.
The opening two games both went to tie-breaks, with both players
having two game balls apiece in the second, before Abbas finally
converted at the third attempt.
Gohar refocused during the break between games and halved the
deficit for the loss of five points in the third, but Abbas
continued to put pressure on the World No.4 and she closed out
the fourth to claim a win that will send ripples through the
Women’s draw.
It’s a great feeling, it’s the first time I’ve
ever beaten anyone in the top 10, I can’t believe it.
I tried to break her game and to not let her play a fast game. I
tried to slow things down a little bit and go for shots in the
front more.
There’s no pressure on me, so I want to play my best squash. I
want to go as far as I can, if I play like this then I could go
to the quarter-finals.
Nada Abbas
Tesni Evans (Wal) 3-0 [16] Salma Hany
Ibrahim
11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (38m)
PSAReports
Evans claimed her fourth win in five matches against Egypt’s
Salma Hany Ibrahim, the player sitting directly below her in
the World Rankings.
The pair’s last meeting came in November’s Wadi Degla Open –
where Evans prevailed to reach her biggest ever semi-final – and
the 24-year-old from Rhys continued where she left off there to
take an 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 victory in 38 minutes.
I knew it was going to be hard today, but what
I did seemed to pay off.
“It will be fun to play SJP.... She’s playing really well at
No.8 in the world, obviously she’s playing some of her best
squash, so it’s going to hard, but I’m looking forward to having
a go.
[3]
Raneem El
Welily
3-0 [WC] Fiona Moverley (Eng) 13-11, 11-7, 11-6
(27m)
PSA Reports
Egypt’s Raneem El Welily halted home city hero Fiona
Moverley in the first round of the British Open, putting in a
sharp display to triumph in less than 30 minutes of play.
The former World No.1 was at her enigmatic best in the first,
trading outright winners with needless errors as Moverley gamely
stuck in with her to make it as difficult as possible, but the
Englishwoman couldn’t convert on her opportunities, allowing El
Welily to eventually take the first 13-11.
From then on El Welily only got better. Finding her line and
length with increased precision she was just too good for the
local player and saw it out in style to ease into the second
round.
It wasn’t the best of starts – I felt like I
was a bit loose and not as sharp as I wanted to be.
Hopefully I will be stronger next match. The court here is very
different from most of the other ones I play on around the world
so it took me a while to find the right shots.
[8]
Tarek Momen
3-0 [Q] Alan Clyne (Sco)
11-7, 11-8, 11-3 (35m)
Alan has been
playing really well over the past few months. It was a match
which I had to be 100 per cent prepared for. I think I handled
it quite well today.
I was very focused and I played some of my best squash today.
The first two games were very tough, they were very close and I
just managed to edge through until the end.
I was happy to build up a good lead in the third and that gave
me a confidence boost. From then on, I just kept playing my game
and I'm very pleased to get off in three games.
The fresher you are, the better chance you have in the next
round.
[7]
Ali Farag
3-1 Ryan Cuskelly (Aus)
11-9, 11-1, 9-11, 11-1 (54m)
PSA Reports
Egypt’s Ali Farag ended a two-match losing streak to Australian
No.1 Ryan Cuskelly, completing a 3-1 victory to get his 2017
campaign off to a strong start.
The tall Harvard-graduate had lost to Cuskelly in the final of
the Motor City Open in January, but went two games ahead after
moving Cuskelly around the court skilfully, with the second game
seeing the World No.8 drop just one point.
A resurgent Cuskelly found his way into the encounter in the
third, taking it 11-9, but Farag went back up through the gears
to romp to an 11-1 victory once more in the fourth, setting up a
second round clash with Hong Kong’s Tsz Fung Yip after his match
with Stephen Coppinger was cut short due to a back injury to the
latter.
None of the games were easy, despite the
scores, the rallies were tough from both of us.
I was just lucky in the second and the fourth to run away with
the first few points and I think that gave me the edge to play a
little more freely. I’m very happy because the last few times we
played, he beat me.
Everyone looks forward to the British Open, it’s the second
biggest tournament after the World Championship and it’s
everyone’s dream to win it. I come to every tournament trying to
win it and I will try to take it step-by step.
Today was a tough one and tomorrow will be a tough one, nothing
is easy, but I will give it my best.
[1]
Mohamed ElShorbagy
3-2 Fares Dessouky 11-8, 10-12,
11-7, 8-11, 11-8 (93m)
PSA Reports
Mohamed ElShorbagy kept alive his hopes of becoming the
first man since Jansher Khan to win three consecutive British
Opens by narrowly edging his way through a highly charged five-game
battle with compatriot Fares Dessouky.
After twice taking game leads ElShorbagy found himself 3-6 down
in the decisive fifth and staring at an acrimonious first round
exit. But the 24-year-old managed to raise his game and do just
enough to come through 11-8 and escape from the clutches of
defeat after what had been a highly charged and highly strung
affair – which called the referee into action time and time
again.
With testosterone in the air there was palpable tension between
the two, with ElShorbagy at one point calling Dessouki a ‘drama
queen’ while the younger man looked to have tripped up the World
No.1 during one passage of play. But in-between the histrionics
the duo put together some spellbinding squash and ElShorbagy
could well be boosted by the win – with his last World Series
win at the U.S. Open beginning in similar circumstances with a
get out of jail win over Cesar Salazar.
The Egyptian, now based in Bristol, will hope to keep his
winning run going in Hull to win a third straight Open title –
where his status as World No.1 is also on the line with both
Karim Abdel Gawad and Gregory Gaultier in a position to overtake
ElShorbagy atop the standings.
I’m not sure I would say I escaped today.
My results of late haven’t been good. At 5-3 down in the fifth I
looked to the sky and just asked what’s been happening this
season. I think since January I’ve been playing better, but I’ve
not been getting it right mentally.
I’ve been fighting myself all season. But today I was proud of
how I managed to fight until the end. He was very clever and
stopped the momentum at times and I had to deal with it, I’m
pleased I did.
I’m playing with no expectations right now – but if I can be the
first player since Jansher to win three in a row I’d love that.
It’s just about getting it right mentally and the fifth I did
that.
I’ve been in the final of 11 of 13 World Series events and have
been No.1 for 28 months, and I think it’s natural for that to
catch up on you at some point.
I knew there was going to be a point where my level would drop
and the motivation went a little. I think having that when I’m
26 is good for me though because I can learn so much from this
and come back stronger – I’ve seen Nick, Greg, Sahabana and all
those players go through these kind of times so I know I can
come out stronger again at the end.
[2]
Karim Abdel Gawad
3-2 Omar Mosaad 13-11,
6-11, 11-2, 5-11, 11-6 (72m)
PSA reports
World Champion Karim Abdel Gawad used a get out of jail card
to escape from a tense five game battle with Omar Mosaad in the
first round of the British Open – a victory that keeps Gawad’s
hopes of overtaking Mohamed ElShorbagy atop the World Rankings
alive.
I was very disapointed for Mosaad and myself to
have to play him first round. He is very tough to play against
and he’s like an older brother to me.
I had to play my very best to be able to win and I think I’m
just very lucky to come through in five today.
The British open is a dream for every player. Players like
Shabana and Darwish told me what this event meant when I was
young and coming up so I will keep working towards achieving the
dream of winning this prestigious tournament.
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Finals
[1] Hania El Hammamy
3-0 Rachael Chadwick (Eng)
11-5, 11-6, 11-9 (24m)
[4] Mayar Hany 3-1
[15] Amina Yousry
11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8 (39m)
[13] Nada Abbas 3-1 [7] Hollie Naughton (Can)
11-6, 6-11, 11-4, 11-8 (40m)
[11] Samantha Teran (Mex) 3-1 [1]
Nadine Shahin 17/15, 13/15, 11/8, 11/5 (55m)
[3] Grégoire Marche (Fra) 3-0 [16]
Karim Ali Fathi
11-9, 12-10, 11-8 (50m)
[4] Zahed Mohamed 3-1 [15]
Lucas Serme (Fra) 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-3 (55m)
[14] Mohamed Reda 3-1
Nathan Lake (Eng) 11/6, 9/11, 11/7, 11/6 (53m)
19th March -
Qualifying 1st Round
[1] Hania
El Hammamy 3-1 Sarah Campion (Eng) 11-7, 11-6,
7-11, 11-8 (42m)
[4] Mayar Hany 3-0 Grace
Gear (Eng)
11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (18m)
[15] Amina Yousry 3-2 Milnay
Louw (Rsa) 6-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 (43m)
[13] Nada Abbas 3-1 Laura
Pomportes (Fra) 10-12, 11-7,
13-11, 11-6 (38m)
[1] Nadine Shahin 3-0
Zeina Mickawy
11-9, 12-10, 11-6 (28m)
[16] Karim Ali Fathi 3-0
Stuart McGragor (Eng)
11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (25m)
[4] Zahed Mohamed 3-0 Richie
Fallows (Eng)
11-7, 11-5, 11-2 (34m)
[14] Mohamed Reda 3-0 Lyell
Fuller (Eng)
11/4, 10/12, 11/7, 11/8 (47m)
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