US OPEN 2017    

[10] Nour El Tayeb 3-2 [2] Raneem El Welily  8-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-7, 11-5 (52m)
[4] Ali Farag 3-0  [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy                  12-10, 11-9, 11-8 (49m)

[10] Nour El Tayeb 3-2 [2] Raneem El Welily  8-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-7, 11-5 (52m)

Steve Cubbins Reports

The first ever all-Egyptian U.S. Open women's final started slowly, with Raneem El Welily and Nour El Tayeb, both appearing in their second finals, not finding their best games and making too many unforced errors in the early stages.

From 8-all in the first Welily took three points in a row to lead 11-8. The next two games were both one-sided, the second 11-4 to Welily, the third 11-5 to Tayeb, but the pace and quality of play was now steadily improving.

It was Tayeb who pulled away at the end of the fourth and, now moving so much faster than in the early games, took that momentum into the fifth as she established a match winning 10-3 lead that, after a couple of Welily winners, was soon enough converted and Tayeb had collected the first World Series title of the season.

Is this true? Is this really happening?

It doesn't seem real.. I pictured that moment so many times, for three four years, I dreamed of it, thinking I hope that one day, I can win a major title, and to be honest I didn't think it would happen here.

I’ve been dreaming about it and working really hard for the last two and half years. I’ve been improving every single tournament - it feels amazing to back-up wins against top four athletes – it’s amazing and I hope this is just the start.

Just before I came, I was telling my coach, if I want to win this, I have to beat so many top players, that it didn't seem real at the time. And now, standing here, I still cannot believe it.

During the 2015 final, I was very nervous, and I was injured for several months after that. But that injury time out taught me how to enjoy the game, enjoy my squash. I'm playing squash because I'm enjoying it.

As soon as I finished my match, I just wanted to watch Ali and I was so nervous. It’s a dream – I see him every day working hard so it feels really special that both of our first World Series titles happen to be together.

I want to thank my coaches back home, first Haitham Effat, my coach for 10 years who believe in me when nobody, not even me, did. Also just this year, I started training with Hossam Nasser, who added a lot of bite in my game, and at last but not least, my fitness coach, Ali Smail, I've been working with him for the past year and I feel the improvement, so I want to thank the three of them very much.

And also, I want to thank my family, my mum and dad that were watching me tonight, and probably are very nervous right now, thanks very much to everybody back home, and I hope that Ali can win this one too.



I love playing here, I love the crowd, it's been a great week, I can't complain...

[4] Ali Farag 3-0  [2] Mohamed Elshorbagy                  12-10, 11-9, 11-8 (49m)

Ali played very well not only tonight, but the whole week, he completely deserve the title this year, he was the best player by far the whole week, and he completely deserves the victory, so I want to congratulate him for his performance tonight.

But I'm not going to go anywhere, I'm going to be back and I'm looking forward to more battles with Ali...

It feels unreal for now.. I have sooo many people to thank.. It's unbelieavable... you may think it's an individual sport, far from it. We have so many people around us that help us to reach where we are today...

The two people I want to mostly thank are my parents, if anybody has got to be awarded this trophy, it's pretty much them. They have done amazing things through the years, and I dedicate this trophy to them.

But I need to tell you something, Mohamed is not kidding when he says he's going to come back, that's the problem. I know the next battle is going to be even tougher.

I really enjoyed playing with him, with all the Egyptian contingency, it's going really well, and that's something we are really proud of, four of us Egyptians in the final, and I hope that the Egyptians watching us on TV now are proud of us.

I would like to thank my coaches, I just moved to Wadi Degla, and Karim Darwish, the Sports Director there, former number 1 himself, he's been helping me a lot in the past couple of months. I knew it was going to pay out at some point, but I didn't know it was going to be that quick so I want to thank him for that.

I need to thank my brother, he's been my role model ever since I can remember. At some point, I was about to quit squash and he is the one that brought me back to it.

The Harvard Head Coach, Mike Way, who was here early this week, with Nour, helping me between games, and the whole of Harvard Team, they've been following me... My fitness coach, Hossam Shaddad, I played so many brutal matches this week, without him, there is no way I could have gone through them, thanks for that.

A huge thank you to Drexel and US Squash, the Court attendants, the referees, everybody!!! The physios as well, I was not sure I'd be able to play this week, because I had a niggle in my knee, I think I'll have a niggle in my knee for all my tournaments from now on!!! Thanks to them, I didn't feel anything during my matches.

It’s a dream, especially that we have done it together on the same night. We couldn’t have asked for a better week and I hope it’s the first of many to come together.

I always believed in myself and this win is going to make me believe even more and hopefully I carry this momentum into future tournaments. I can enjoy it tonight and then tomorrow I have to forget about it and move on.

It’s a good omen when she plays before me! It was a rollercoaster of emotions but I think I dealt with it really well and I couldn’t be happier!”

I think I deserve a burger now...

[10] Nour El Tayeb 3-1 [4] Laura Massaro (Eng)    11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-3 (47m)
[2] Raneem El Welily 3-1 [11] Joelle King (Nzl)       11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6 (40m)

[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy 3-0 [3] Nick Matthew (Eng)               13-11, 11-6, 11-8 (49m)
[4] Ali Farag 3-0 Omar Mosaad                                   11-6, 14-12, 11-6 (45m)

[10] Nour El Tayeb 3-1 [4] Laura Massaro (Eng)    11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-3 (47m)

I’m very pleased with my performance, I'm very happy, you can tell, it's unbelievable to reach the final for the second time,  I can call myself two times US Open Finalist, so far!!!

My mindset at the beginning was NOT to take any risks, I wanted to play deep to the back first, but then, I just found the openings, and everything was going in, so I thought, why not, just go for it.

To be honest I was very relaxed on there. Laura and I played a few years ago in the final here and I was so nervous, so today I was trying to think to myself that it’s just a regular match and go out there and enjoy it and I did.

She doesn’t give up and she keeps going. She forces me to focus on every shot that I play otherwise she is going to take advantage of any loss of concentration from any of her opponents. That’s something I learned from her and it’s unbelievable to beat her in such an occasion.

After l lost the third game, my husband was just cheering me on, telling me " you are playing well, it happens, she is the world number 4, former world number 1, she has won everything in the game, she is bound to come back for a least a game.

Also, Nour El Sherbini was in my corner, cheering me on, with Salma Hany, that shows the spirit that we have, and I just want to thank them very much for their amazing support and spirit.

I made the final three years ago but I’m just enjoying it and whoever I play in the final. My squash couldn’t be going better! I’ve been working really hard and I’m happy that it’s starting to pay off.

[2] Raneem El Welily 3-1 [11] Joelle King (Nzl)     11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6 (40m)

It feels fantastic. I just have to keep up with all of the other players, they are so good. Joelle is in fantastic form, I played her here last year and it was something similar to that match – she was good then and now a year later she’s better, she’s beaten all the top five and is having a great season.

I just tried to keep pushing and digging as much as I could, she really had me running all over the court and I thought there was no way out but I just kept digging and I think I broke her mentally and that was key.

Everyone is in top form and Nour El Tayeb is playing her heart out this tournament, she’s playing really well and I’m really happy for her that she is playing to that level again.

[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy 3-0 [3] Nick Matthew (Eng)           13-11, 11-6, 11-8 (49m)

I thought it was a bit unlucky that me and Nick were in the same half of the draw this year.

The level of squash we have played so far, I think we are playing even better than last year but sometimes it’s the luck of the draw and we both had to deal with it as professionals.

I thought we dealt with it well and in front of a crowd like here, quality squash is supposed to be played and I’m really glad that we could both play that kind of squash and I can’t wait to play in my third final here tomorrow.

[4] Ali Farag 3-0 Omar Mosaad                                   11-6, 14-12, 11-6 (45m)

It feels amazing, I just feel very happy to get through such a tough opponent. Omar is never easy to play and he is finding his form back again.

So to get a win against him is a great pleasure, but as you said I have the final tomorrow so I’ll just enjoy it for half and hour, then I will focus on the match tomorrow.”

Omar was playing out of this world two seasons ago, and unfortunately he had to sit out for a while last year so he dropped down to thirty. He’s far from that level, he’s definitely inside the top ten. So today I didn’t feel I was the favorite to win at all.

We practice together all the time so I see his resilience and I see his hard work all the time. I knew today was going to be very tough so I’m pleased to be through.

You know what will be more special? If we both hold the trophy together.

[4] Ali Farag 3-2 [8] Fares Dessouky     10-12, 11-5, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8 (87m)
Omar Mosaad 3-1 Diego Elias (Per)                 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10 (70m)
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0 Simon Rösner (Ger)  12-10, 12-10, 11-5 (45m)

[10] Nour El Tayeb 3-1 [1] Nour El Sherbini     13-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7 (47m)  
[2] Raneem El Welily 3-1 [5] Nouran Gohar     11-13, 11-7, 12-10, 11-5 (46m)

[2] Raneem El Welily 3-1 [5] Nouran Gohar  11-13, 11-7, 12-10, 11-5 (46m)

Nouran is not an easy player. We’re teammates and we also play for the same club, so we know each other’s game quite well. But everyone goes on court with a different attitude and a different personality.

You come on with a plan but that could change any second and it keeps changing throughout the entire match so you have to adapt and you have to find a way to win.

It was a really tough match for me. Before the match Mosaad and Diego were playing and they looked like they were about to finish so I stopped warming up and then they took a while to finish the match and I just felt a bit flat on court. But I’m glad I pushed through that and found a way to win and I’m happy to be in the semis again.

[10] Nour El Tayeb 3-1 [1] Nour El Sherbini     13-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7 (47m)

The first game proved to be the closest of the match with both players using the front corners to slot away winners, and both making some unforced errors. El Tayeb fought off two game balls from 8-10 down and earned one of her own, which El Sherbini brushed off to level at 11-all. El Tayeb earned another at 12-11 before claiming the first game on a stroke call 13-11.

El Sherbini resettled in the second and produced the same form that saw her win the 2017 world title as she strung together an impressive string of six consecutive points to level the match at 11-5 and one all in games.

In the third and fourth games, El Tayeb stepped up her pressure on the world No. 1, shooting winners from all over the court and forcing more errors from El Sherbini. El Tayeb maintained leads throughout both games to go on and clinch the match in four after forty-seven minutes.

It seems that I like the US Open! I always seem to play well here, thankfully so far!! I hope I can continue...

I had beaten Nour in our Nationals, but to be honest, it was just one week after she won her second World Title so I knew then she was not at her best. So I didn't take too much notice of our last meeting because of the conditions at that time.

It's always tough to play the world number one that happens to be Nour El Sherbini! We are junior rivals for almost 10 years now, although she is three years younger than I am. She's been world number 1 for almost two years now, and it shows her perseverance and attitude on court. She's been the in-form player over the past 18 months so this is definitely one of the best wins of my career so far.

I have been training really, really hard with my coaches, I had a game plan, and I'm happy I executed it the way I did.

I'm very happy to be through to the semi-finals. I reached the final here two years ago but got injured and I'll never forget that event. It took a year to come back from that injury and another year to recover that physical and mental strength to compete.

So to win today gives me a lot of confidence and belief that I can play at this level and hopefully I can keep it up for two more matches.

Omar Mosaad 3-1 Diego Elias (Per) 11-6, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10 (70m)

I really enjoy playing here. I love to be in Philly and I love the atmosphere here. I’m enjoying the crowd and I’m really pleased to be through to the semi-final here for the third time.

At this level you just have to think about each match, I started in qualification and then I made it through to the main draw because Ramy and Greg pulled out of the event. I’m really happy to get through and I just want to thank my coaches and everyone around me and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

[4] Ali Farag 3-2 [8] Fares Dessouky  10-12, 11-5, 8-11, 12-10, 11-8 (87m)

It was pure guts that got me the win today. Squash wise he was the better player but I'm just so happy to be through.

The first three games the ball was flying and I thought he adapted to it better than I did because I just couldn’t find any rhythm.

I hope I can keep it going tomorrow. It's another battle with a good friend. Omar and I play at least twice a week and it's so good to see him back. He's been working hard and deserves to be where he is.

We have the upmost respect for each other and I’m so happy for him to be back and I had no doubt that he was going to come back.

He had a pretty rough year last season and I can tell you his work ethic never changed one bit. He was working so hard and staying very positive and he deserves where he is now, but hopefully tomorrow he is going to stop!

[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0 Simon Rösner (Ger)  12-10, 12-10, 11-5 (45m)

Defending champion Mohamed ElShorbagy came through a difficult three-game quarterfinal against Simon Roesner to reach his fourth consecutive U.S. Open semifinal.

The German world No. 12 didn’t make it easy for the two-time champion, fighting off four game balls in the first with grueling rallies, but falling short 12-10.

Roesner came close again in the second, but committed crucial errors late in the game to see ElShorbagy gain a 2-0 advantage.

The third was all ElShorbagy who clinched the match 11-5 after forty-five minutes.

In the second game I was down 8-6 and I needed to give it a big push to try and be 2-0 up. There is a huge difference between 1-1 and being 2-0 up, so I’m really happy to be able to get the win in three.

I thought we played a really high-quality match in the first two games and I’m really happy to get through.

It’s such an advantage for me to be able to have a rest day tomorrow and comeback here and try and play another good match with Nick.

Part Two
 
[4] Ali Farag 3-2 [Q] Mazen Hesham         12-10, 10-12, 7-11, 11-4, 11-1 (64m)
[8] Fares Dessouky 3-1 Alan Clyne (Sco)             4-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-7 (44m)Diego Elias (Per) 3-0 [6] Marwan ElShorbagy                 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 (46m)
Omar Mosaad 3-0 Paul Coll (Nzl)                               12-10, 11-8, 11-8 (46m)

[5] Nouran Gohar 3-1 [13] Joshna Chinappa (Ind)   9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5 (57m)
[2] Raneem El Welily 3-0 [15] Tesni Evans (Wal)          11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (28m)

[5] Nouran Gohar 3-1 [13] Joshna Chinappa (Ind)   9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5 (57m)

Steve Cubbins Reports

Chinappa, world No. 13, came out firing in the first game, finding her marks to gain an early lead 11-9. Gohar replied by taking a close second 11-9. Chinappa earned an 8-6 lead in the third when Gohar strung together three winners before clinching the game 11-9. The fourth was all Gohar who sped to a 7-1 lead before closing out the match 11-5.

The result sends Gohar to her second consecutive U.S. Open quarterfinals.

It was a battle physically, but it was also mentally very very tough on the court today.

Being 1/0 down and 8/6 down, and in the third, down as well, I was thinking I have to give it all today, even if I'm going to lose, I've got to give it a fight and play my best.

It was a good performance, and I'm happy with the way I dealt with it mentally. It was really tough in there, and Joshna played really well. I had to try and contain her a little bit, play tight on the wall, because if you open the court  with her, she is going to drop the shot or play a boast, a very nice one too!

So I tried to play a basic game today, and I'm glad it worked at the end.

[2] Raneem El Welily 3-0 [15] Tesni Evans (Wal)          11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (28m)

Having barely survived her first round encounter, recovering from two games down, second seed Raneem El Welily looked sharp from the start against Tesni Evans. The Welsh tiger battled well, but the world #2 looked in good form, and good touch, as she won in straight games, Evans become increasingly resigned and frustrated as the match progressed.

The last rally said it all , with Raneem, already 10-4 up, chasing down everything Tesni threw at her, racing to the front for a final delicate dropshot.

I’m really happy to be through today.

Tesni is a really tough opponent, we haven’t played much but I’ve always watched her play and she has got great hands and great skills and she’s, I’m sure, a future top ten player. I have all respect for her and I really enjoyed playing against her today.

The plan today was obviously more character than two days ago and give everything and hopefully I managed to do that and I’m pleased to be through to the next round.

Diego Elias (Per) 3-0 [6] Marwan ElShorbagy                11-5, 11-9, 11-9 (46m)

Diego Elias played “one of the best matches of my life” to upset six seed Marwan ElShorbagy and reach his first U.S. Open quarterfinals—just his second career appearance in a World Series quarterfinal.

The twenty-year-old world No. 14 contained the Egyptian, cutting off ElShorbagy’s advances and moving him around the court before slotting in his winners to end the entertaining rallies.

Elshorbagy nearly fought back to win the second game, coming back from 4-8 down to go up 9-8, but Elias pulled back ahead to win the second 11-9. ElShorbagy remained within reach in the third, until Elias pushed through from 8-all to win the match 11-9 after forty-six minutes.

“It’s always hard, we’re good friends and it’s always a close match,” Elias said. “I was really concentrated this match and I was trying to do my best. I played one of the best matches of my life.”

The Peruvian said he spent this summer training with world No. 1 Gregory Gaultier, which improved his game leading into this season. Last week in San Francisco, Elias nearly defeated Karim Abdel Gawad in the Oracle NetSuite Open semifinals, but squandered a two game lead.

“Last week I got a bit tired I had played a match the night before, but I think that was also in my head,” Elias said. “This time when I was two love up I wasn’t thinking of the other match, but I was really trying to concentrate.

“I have my dad with my this time, which has helped a lot. This season I’m playing better, I trained really hard with Greg in the Czech Republic and I’m feeling good.”

[4] Ali Farag 3-2 [Q] Mazen Hesham             12-10, 10-12, 7-11, 11-4, 11-1 (64m)

Fourth seed Ali Farag came through a five-game challenge against fellow Egyptian Mazen Hesham, easing to victory in the fifth in a match that he could so easily have lost.

Hesham - aks 'the Black Falcon' - was on fire in the early stages, finding winners at will as he took a 10-4 lead in the opening game. Farag wasn't fazed, and playing the 'Steady Eddie' character proceeded to win the next eight points to take the lead 12-10. Or, to be more precise, Farag simply waited for the Falcon's errors, of which there were ten in that opening game.

The second and third were both well contested and close, Hesham winning both to take the lead, and the fourth continued in the same vein until 4-all.

From then on the Hesham error count soared again, although to be fair Farag was controlling the play well, and found a few winners of his own. The last game and a half were over in a flash, and at 11-1 in the fifth a relieved Farag was through to a second consecutive U.S. Open quarter-final.

I was very surprised with the way he bounced back after losing the first game. He's been working very hard on the mental aspect of the game, he got much better over the years, and I hope he doesn't get much better because nobody will have a chance against him..

He is such a talented player, people always admire his front game but also, his back game, his basic game is so solid, it's tough to get him behind you. You have to dig in there and try and get always in front of him, which is never easy.

I tried at some points that we are friends, we are very very good friends off court, and on court, I try and separate that to give it my best.

I'm just happy, 11/1 doesn't reflect the match, it could have gone either way, especially the first three.

I just tried and weather the storm as much as possible. I was talking with Nour and Mike Way, Harward head coach who was here and helping between games, I just tried and hit my targets as much as possible, as if I gave him any angle, I was in trouble, so I tried and kept it tight. If it's that high from the glass back, he's going to attack as well! So you have basically only 5 inches where you can hit the ball up, other than that, goodbye.

Happy I was able to do just that today, it was a flip of a coin, just happy to get through today.

[8] Fares Dessouky 3-1 Alan Clyne (Sco)             4-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-7 (44m)

Fares Dessouki won through to an all-Egyptian quarter-final against Ali Farag as he recovered from a game down to beat Alan Clyne.

The Scot dominated the first, but Dessouky returned the favour in the second, and although Clyne had early leads in the third and fourth games, his error count – and his own frustration with that – was too high, the Egyptian soon overcame those deficits to move into his third U.S. Open quarter-final in four years.

I’m very happy to be back here again and make the quarter-finals for the second time.

He surprised me because last time we played I was 2-0 up and so he surprised me in the first game and I’m pleased to have pulled through.

It’s going to be a tough game in the next round, Ali is one of the toughest opponents in the world so I have to be ready for that match and try to enjoy it.

I’m looking forward to the next round and I hope to play well and make it through to the semi-finals.

Omar Mosaad 3-0 Paul Coll (Nzl)                               12-10, 11-8, 11-8 (46m)

Omar Mosaad, finalist here in 2015 but after injury and personal problems now ranked in the twenties, turned in an impressive performance as he dismantled Paul Coll, conqueror of the world champion in the first round in straight games.

The big Egyptian powered ahead in the first, moving to 10-6 but needing a fifth game ball to take the lead after a Coll recovery. Mosaad was always ahead in the next two games, finishing off in style to set up a quarter-final with Diego Elias.

I’m really happy.

It has been about a year and a half to reach the quarter-finals and it has been two years since I reached the final here. Last year it was difficult for me as I got sick a little bit but I’m really happy to make the quarter-final.

To play against Paul is really hard but I’m really happy to reach the quarter-finals and hopefully I can win the next round.

H2H

Part One

[10] Nour El Tayeb 3-1 Salma Hany Ibrahim         8-11, 14-12, 13-11, 11-6 (56m)
[1] Nour El Sherbini 3-0 [14] Victoria Lust (Eng)               11-2, 7-2 (ret.) (11m)

Daryl Selby (Eng) 3-2 [7] Tarek Momen       11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8 (102m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy 3-0 Mohamed Abouelghar           11-8, 7-11, 11-2, 11-6 (53m)

[10] Nour El Tayeb 3-1 Salma Hany Ibrahim         8-11, 14-12, 13-11, 11-6 (56m)

Steve Cubbins Reports

2015 finalist Nour El Tayeb came through a difficult second round encounter against her Egyptian training partner Salma Hany Ibrahim.

Ibrahim, world No. 19, started on the front foot, pulling away from 8-all to take the first game 11-8.

A crucial second game saw Ibrahim fight off a 8-3 deficit to get within reach 8-9. El Tayeb earned two game balls, but Ibrahim fought off both and went on to earn her own up 11-10. El Tayeb replied with two points of her own to earn a third game ball, which Ibrahim again repelled to level at 12-all. The world No. 14 finally clinched the fifteen-minute game 14-12 to level the game score at 1-1.

Ibrahim regained control of the match early in the third game, sprinting to an 8-3 lead. El Tayeb chipped away at the lead and emphatically pulled off two winners from 7-9 down to level the score. El Tayeb then converted the game on the third game ball to earn a 2-1 advantage.

The fourth was all El Tayeb, who maintained her lead to win the match 11-6 after fifty-six minutes.

I knew that she had beaten Sarah Jane, so that she had to be in fine form. But to be honest, we practice all the time, and her game in a real match is 4 5 times as it is in practice, so she caught me completely by surprise tonight!

At the end of the 2nd and in the 3rd, I thought I was going to lose that match. So to come out as the winner, is unbelievable.

Going 2/1 down is not an ideal situation, and I was sure she would have taken a lot of confidence out of it. So I told myself, try to hit the ball as hard as you can, and put it to the back, don't do anything silly.

It was a flip of a coin at the end, and I'm very happy it went my way.

[1] Nour El Sherbini 3-0 [14] Victoria Lust (Eng)    11-2, 7-2 (ret.) (11m)

Top seed and World #1 Nour El Sherbini had an easy passage to her fourth U.S. Open quarter-final in a row as Enngland's Victoria Lust pulled up injured early in the second game.

The Egyptian dominated a quick first game, winning it 11-2, and at 7-2 Lust, who apparently awoke this morning suffering from a trapped nerve in her back, offered her hand to concede the match.

Daryl Selby (Eng) 3-2 [7] Tarek Momen       11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8 (102m)

Steve Cubbins Reports

Daryl Selby produced the first upset of the round as he beat seventh-seeded Tarek Momen in a marathon five-setter.

The first three games all saw big swings of momentum – Selby led 8-2 in the first but only took it 11-9, he led 6-2 in the second but Momen recovered to level 11-9, then Selby overturned deficits of 1-6, 3-8 and 7-10 to regain the lead 12-10.

No such swings in the next two games though, as the pair traded points, long rallies interrupted by frequent decisions, queries and court cleaning led to a stop-start spectacle.

The Egyptian pulled clear at the end of the fourth to set up a decider, but at the death of the fifth, 8/8, a couple of tins cost Momen dearly as Selby advanced to match ball, secured at the first attempt as Momen hit the ball back to himself for a stroke to Selby. 

[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy 3-0 Mohamed Abouelghar           11-8, 7-11, 11-2, 11-6 (53m)

Steve Cubbins Reports

Defending champion Mohamed Elshorbagy – now the highest remaining seed in the event – continued his impressive start to the tournament with an interrupted win over compatriot Mohamed Abouelghar.

Elshorbagy had the upper hand in a first game that was interrupted by frequent court maintenance due to the humidity and sweat causing problems on the floor. Shorbagy took the first 11-8, but at 3-1 to Abouelghar in the second the decision was taken to suspend the match to allow the air conditioning to improve court conditions.Play resumed after around half an hour, and Abouelghar continued to advance, levelling the match 11-7. It was all Shorbagy in the next two games, powering through the third 11-2 and moving ahead to claim a commanding lead in the fourth.

Abouelghar reduced the deficit, but there was to be no comeback here as Elshorbagy advanced 11-6 to his eighth successive U.S. Open quarter-final.

I thought he dealt with the situation very well to be honest. I’m supposed to be the more experience one but he actually came back in that second game and played really well.

He has been playing well and recently won in Macau – his biggest title to date – he is young, hungry and a really talented player and so I’m really pleased to come through in four today.

I finished the match very strongly, getting my concentration level up from 4-all, that was when I had to take charge.

I felt it was very scrappy at times and there was a lot of stoppages, he made a few errors, I made a few errors and when it was 4-4 in the fourth I had to get my concentration level up and that was the time when I had to take the lead and get in charge.

I’m just really happy to get through to the quarters and I thought the referee dealt with the situation very well, the most important thing for any referee to do is to protect the players from any injuries and take the decision to wait until the floor is fine again was a very good decision from the referee and I really want to thank him for that.

   

Bottom Draw

[5] Nouran Gohar 3-1 [Q] Amanda Landers-Murphy (Nzl)   11-2, 13-11, 4-11, 11-7 (33m)
[2] Raneem El Welily 3-2 [Q] Hollie Naughton (Can)  10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 11-1, 11-9 (53m)
[15] Tesni Evans (Wal) 3-0 Heba El Torky                       11-6, 11-4, 17-15 (40m)

[6] Marwan Elshorbagy 3-0 [Q] Abdulla Al Tamimi (Qat)   11-5, 12-10, 11-3 (31m)
Alan Clyne (Sco) 3-1 [Q] Karim Ali Fathi                   11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4 (60m)
[4] Ali Farag 3-0 [Q] Lucas Serme (Fra)                         11-6, 14-12, 11-6 (39m)
[Q] Mazen Hesham 3-2 Miguel Angel Rodriguez (Col) 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8 (55m)
Paul Coll (Nzl) 3-1 [1] Karim Abdel Gawad                11-8, 11-3, 6-11, 11-8 (74m)
Omar Mosaad 3-0 [Q] Chris Simpson (Eng)                      11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (44m)
[8] Fares Dessouky 3-0 [wc] Chris Gordon (Usa)              11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (40m)

[5] Nouran Gohar 3-1 [Q] Amanda Landers-Murphy (NZL)    11-2, 13-11, 4-11, 11-7 (33m)

I'm back here I guess for the 5th time, definitely happy to be back here, looking forward to my next match.

In the first game, I think she was struggling to see the ball, but in the second, she caused me a lot of troubles, hitting everything in the nick! I had to really play at my best to win today...

The second was very important, there is a huge difference between being 2/0 or 1/1, I really wanted to win that game and give it all! So at 9/10 down, I told myself, just fight for everything, and try to win that game to be 2/0. I'm lucky!

In the third, she played really wel, she won it in 6m, something like that, I had to regroup myself and go back to the game plan.

[2] Raneem El Welily 3-2 [Q] Hollie Naughton (Can)  10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 11-1, 11-9 (53m)

In the third, I think I kind of let go, I had nothing to lose, 2/0 down, I was  literally out of the tournament, but yes, happy to be back from the dead...

She nearly made an even better come back at the end, but thankfully, she gave me a gift at the end, and I'm still alive...

Experience is key here, I think I have to learn from today's match, like I've learned in the past, so, thankfull next time, I'll handle the situation a bit better...

[6] Marwan Elshorbagy 3-0 [Q] Abdulla Al Tamimi (Qat)   11-5, 12-10, 11-3 (31m)

I feel good. I'm happy to be back here, I feel excited just to be on court here, to be back in Philly makes me feel good.

Second tournament of the season, and the first World Series. Feeling good and sharp, looking forward to my day off tomorrow.

You have to make sure you contain Abdullah. He is a tricky player, very hard to read, and I knew how important that second game was.

I was really focused, I didn't want to give him any chances, because if he has a chance, he'll just go for it. He is really hungry, he doesn't care who he is playing against, or who is on court: he just want to win every match. So beating him 3/0 is a good result I think.

Diego is a very good player, he played very well last week in Shanghai, I was watching him, he had a great win against Nick Matthew, he pushed Gawad all the way to a 5th game, so it's going to be a tough match, but all I can think about now is my day off tomorrow!!

[4] Ali Farag 3-0 [Q] Lucas Serme (Fra)                         11-6, 14-12, 11-6 (39m)

The second game was crucial, had it gone the other way, it would have been a completely different story. I'm just happy to get this second game, thankfully I run with a bit of points in the third, I could capitalise with the lead, and I'm very happy to get away.

We've been playing since a very young age together so we knew what to expect from each other, I knew it was going to be a very tough opponent today, so I'm very happy to get a 3/0 win.

Last time we played was 2 years ago, that's a long time. I remembered from the old days, but also I watched him a little bit, the game has been developing  getting tougher and tougher. So I talked to my coach, I talked to Nour, and thankfully the plan worked today.

A victory in a world series is definitely on my mind but I don't want to go far ahead, I just want to take it match by match. Next one is going to be Mazen or Miguel, very entertaining players, people are going to come to watch them, not me!

It's going to be a tough one but an exciting one as they are both very very fair players  so hopefully, we are going to put on a good show.

[Q] Mazen Hesham 3-2 Miguel Angel Rodriguez (Col) 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8 (55m)

I wouldn't have bet my first squash racquet on Amazing Mazen tonight, as the conditions seemed to be perfect for Miguel. But I guess Mazen learned from the last time they played, only a few days ago in San Fran, a gruelling 5 setter, 7-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-4 in 70m, in the qualifying round would you believe...

Today, Mazen adapted to the conditions very well, never lost his head against a very tough opponent, and the Egyptian will take a lot of confidence from this win, both physically and mentally...

Difference with last week match? Today I was a little bit more patient, a little bit fitter, and a little bit faster and he didn't play as well as he did last week thank God.

It's my third time in this tournament, this time I came through the qualifications, but usually, I make it to the second round...

I'm really happy that I get to play the top guys finally again, I'm trying to improve, physically and mentally, so of course, I'm loving it, and everything for me is a bonus from now on...

He’s such a great player. “I’m actually surprised with the way that he played today. He played really well and he made me move all over the court so it’s great to start the tournament with a win.

It’s a bit humid here so I felt like if this game went to five then it would have been a problem for my second match. I’m glad that it ended at three and I’m really happy to be playing here and I’m looking forward to my next game.

I feel like I played well and I’m looking forward to the next round.

-
Massaro could be injured

Top Draw

[1] Nour El Sherbini 3-0 Mariam Metwally (Egy)                    11-9, 11-2, 11-7 (24m)
Salma Hany Ibrahim 3-1 [7] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng)  11-7, 11-3, 12-14, 11-6 (55m)
[14] Victoria Lust (Eng) 3-0 [Q] Hania El Hammamy             19-17, 11-4, 11-7 (44m)
[10] Nour El Tayeb 3-0 [Q] Kanzy El Dafrawy                       11-7, 11-1, 11-1 (25m)

[7] Tarek Momen 3-0 [Q] Adrian Waller (Eng)                      11-6, 11-9, 11-3 (33m)
[3] Nick Matthew (Eng) 3-0 Zahed Mohamed                       11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (42m)
Mohamed Abouelghar 3-1 Mathieu Castagnet (Fra)   11-6, 13-15, 11-4, 11-3 (52m)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy 3-0 Cameron Pilley (Aus)              11-9, 11-8, 11-4 (44m)

Happy to get through.

It was a tricky first round. Mariam is a very good player, we grew up together, we play in the same club, and we live in the same city, so it's very hard to play a good friend and somebody you train all the time with...

The first game was very important. First game of the first game, you can't to get yourself in the tournament and get in the right mood. Happy to have my brother and my coach to give me the right game tactic and get me back in the game.

Happy with the way I finished the match and looking forward to my next round...

Very happy with my performance today. SJ has been playing really well and she’s got such good shots that I had to keep the ball tight as much as I could so I didn’t give her many opportunities.

 I am glad that I'm just enjoying my time on the glasscourt, enjoying my game. This is my best ever win on the glass...

Last year here, I was playing Alison Waters, I was match ball up, and I just got scared to finish it off. And today in the third again, I got scared again. So in the 4th, at 10/6, I told myself, just go for it and to be fearless!

Last week I made a few errors with Laura, so I made sure today not to repeat the same mistakes. I just enjoyed the game, enjoyed the glasscourt, and I'm just glad I'm in the second round...

Ever since my surgery I’ve been struggling a bit with my mindset, but now I think I’m back on track.

Kanzy is not just another Egyptian, we play for the same club back home, we’re teammates, so it’s not really nice playing her. She knows my game very well so it wasn’t easy. Salma and I also play often in practice, so it’s going to be a very interesting and hopefully fun match.

I’m enjoying playing squash. I want to play. I want to win. So today’s performance gave me a lot of confidence for the next round.

Adrian was a tough opponent, he is good with his racquet, and in the middle of the court, if you play a loose shot, he punishes you right away.

Very happy to get through in 3 games, obviously he had a tough one last night, he didn't get enough time to recover today, so I knew that was going to turn to my advantage.

I tried and took advantage of the situation, luckily, I executed my game plan pretty well, I lost a bit of accuracy here and there but overall, happy with my performance and looking forward to playing better in my next round.

I always assume that my opponent is going to be 100% and fresh, so no suprises! I've been in situation where I thought my opponent would be tired, Nick Matthew had a 120m match the night before, and the next day, he beat me 3/0. To this day, I don't know how he did it. That day, I learned my lesson: I assumed he was going to be tired, and became dependant on the fact he had a long match. From that day on, I never assumed a player was going to come on court, not feeling fresh!

Today, I think I'm going to chill, and for most of tomorrow as well! I'll put my head in the zone probably tomorrow night, as I played both a few times and I know what to do... So I'll prepare a game plan, sleep on it, then in the morning get mentally ready for the match...

Cameron is my nightmare on Tour.

He has beaten me a few times and we have played so many times. He has just become a dad so I want to congratulate him and Line. It must have been really hard for him to come here and perform the way he did and I wish him all the best for the rest of the season.

I stayed at the top of the rankings for two years plus and it’s like I’ve been in a bubble with that pressure and when I got out of it it freed my mind and made me think of what I needed to do and the changes I needed to make.

When I lost to my brother in 24 minutes in El Gouna last season, I called David [Palmer] on the phone and we spoke a few times and I told him I need some help and some changes and then we decided to do something this season and it’s really exciting for me.

Mazen plays Rodriguez, Fathi plays Clyne,
Hanna plays Lust, Kanzy plays El Tayeb

Qualifying Finals
Arturo Salazar (Mex) 3-1  Mohamed Reda           11-9, 0-11, 11-9, 11-7 (55m)
Karim Ali Fathi 3-0 Todd Harrity (Usa)                      11-8, 11-8, 13-11 (42m)
Mazen Hesham 3-0 Declan James (Eng)                     11-8, 11-8, 11-5 (39m)

Milou van der Heijden (Ned) 3-0  Menna Hamed           11-9, 11-6, 11-9
Kanzy El Defrawy 3-2 Nikki Todd (CAN)      11-6, 9-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-2 (47m)
Hania El Hammamy 3-0 Zeina Mickawy                      11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (33m) 

4th US Main Draw for Kanzy

“I haven’t played a tournament in five months so coming back into a tournament atmosphere, it took a lot from me to get into it.

It was all in my head, especially in the third when she chopped me, she was playing out of her mind. I thought that was it and that I was completely outplayed. I want to thank coach Assaiante.

He told me ‘I’m not going to tell you anything about squash or making certain shots. Just go out there, play your game and have fun.’ That changed my mindset, I didn’t even think about the game plan and I just had fun. I put in a lot of work this summer and I just want it to pay off.”

Qualifying First Round
Mohamed Reda 3-0 Atticus Kelly (Usa)                   11-5, 11-3, 11-2 (26m)
Karim Ali Fathi 3-0 Vikram Malhotra (Ind)               12-10, 11-6, 11-6 (37m)
Mazen Hesham 3-1 Raphael Kandra (Ger)      10-12, 11-7, 11-3, 11-6 (40m)

Jenny Duncalf (Eng) 3-1 Rowan Reda Araby    5-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-2 (35m)
Menna Hamed 3-1 Rachael Grinham (Aus)        6-11, 1-3, 11-8, 11-8
Nikki Todd (Can) 3-2 Nadine Shahin        9-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6 (42m)
Kanzy Defrawy 3-0 Rachael Chadwick (Eng)            11-7, 11-6, 11-2 (24m)
Hania El Hammamy 3-0 Maria TorPakai (Pak)          11-4, 11-9, 11-7 (21m)
Zeina Mickawy 3-1 Sarah Cardwell (AUS)      11-2, 11-8, 10-12, 11-0 (24m)