El Tayeb Knocks Out Top Seed El Sherbini as Families Dominate in Chicago by Ellie Mawson
photos PSA
February 26, 2018
- World No.3 Nour El Tayeb staged a huge comeback from 2-0 down to
knock World No.1 Nour El Sherbini out of the 2018 Windy City Open
presented by the Walter Family & EquiTrust Life Insurance Company
in an all-Egyptian quarter-final battle staged under the chandeliers of
the University Club of Chicago’s Cathedral Hall.
Top seed El Sherbini took the advantage in the opening two games after,
clawing back game balls in both to take a commanding lead over her
compatriot.
However, U.S. Open winner El Tayeb refused to be beaten and she showed
the same resilience displayed in her round two encounter with
Welshwoman Tesni Evans – where she saved four match-balls to come back
and win 3-2 – as she claimed the next three games to book herself a
semi-final berth at this year’s event – which offers a record high
prize fund of $250,000 in both the men’s and women’s draws.
“Nour is an unbelievable player and we have had a lot of battles this season,” said 24-year-old El Tayeb following her win.
“My coach and husband Ali [Farag] told me to dig in and told me not to
worry about the first two games because I was playing well. Being 2-0
down against Nour El Sherbini is probably the hardest thing in the
world on a squash court but I just thought I am playing so well and so
I just let loose but it was close all the way.”
Joining El Tayeb in the next round to make it a family affair is
husband Farag, who dispatched Australia’s Cameron Pilley in
straight-games to reach the semi-finals for the second consecutive year.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better day,” said Farag after his victory.
“Both of us won our matches and hopefully the tournament is not over
for either of us, but we have very tough competitors tomorrow. The Tour
is very deep now, and everyone is playing so well but we hope to keep
going forward.”
Farag and El Tayeb will be joined at the last four stage by another
married couple after Tarek Momen and defending three-time champion
Raneem El Welily also made their way through with wins over compatriot
Karim Abdel Gawad and England’s Alison Waters, respectively.
“I’m so glad that I’m having a great week here,” said Momen. “It is my first semi-final at the Windy City Open.
"Karim and I spend a lot of time together and we have had a lot of
tough battles in the past with a lot of them going in his favour, so
I’m really glad that I came through tonight in three.
“Raneem and I just try to enjoy ourselves on court - everyone is
focused on their task and we are both trying to reach as far as
possible in this tournament. We just try to support each other the best
way we can.”
El Welily, who recorded her 18th successive win in Chicago, added:
“Obviously Tarek was playing before me, so I was warming up during his
match and it's fantastic that he won today. He's been playing well and
it's a big win for him and I'm happy that we're both in the semi-finals
- it doesn't happen that often.”
Completing the family theme in Chicago are brothers Marwan and Mohamed
ElShorbagy as they defeated Tournament of Champions winner Simon Rösner
and ‘Colombian Cannonball’ Miguel Angel Rodriguez, respectively, to
complete an all-Egyptian last four in the men’s draw.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Joelle King and England’s Sarah-Jane Perry
complete the women’s line-up after they overcame American Amanda Sobhy
and Camille Serme of France, respectively.
Result: Men’s Quarter-Final – 2018 Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family & EquiTrust Life Insurance Company
