El Shorbagys Double Up In $50K PSA Macau Open
by Howard Harding
18 October 2012 - Mohamed El Shorbagy and Marwan El Shorbagy are on course for a surprise family showdown in the semi-finals of the Macau Open after prevailing in today's first round of the PSA World Tour International 50 squash event at the Macau Squash Association Complex in Taipa, Macau.
Marwan, the 19-year-old world junior champion, pulled off a notable upset, beating experienced Finn Olli Tuominen, the world No21 and highest-ranked unseeded player in the draw.
El Shorbagy junior, ranked 26 in the world, sealed his success in an 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5 victory - and now moves on to face fellow countryman Omar Mosaad, the No3 seed who ousted Egyptian qualifier Omar Abdel Meguid 11-5, 11-7, 11-2.
"Very happy with my performance," tweeted Marwan later. "Playing Omar mosaad tomorrow looking forward to it."
And big brother Mohamed also faced a Finn, Henrik Mustonen. But the No2 seed almost failed to claim his anticipated place in the last eight when he let slip a two-game advantage and then had to stage a mighty fight back in the decider against the qualifier.
However, the 21-year-old world No8 steadied the ship and closed out the match 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9.
"When you r 2/0 and 9/6 up and you think you have won the match for a second and then find yourself 2/2 and 7/4 down..lucky me to get through," Shorbagy senior admitted to his Twitter followers later.
There is already a strong Egyptian flavour to the quarter-final line-up where six players from the Land of the Pharaohs will be in action.
And the most surprising name is Karim Ali Fathi - a 19-year-old qualifier who defeated Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet, ranked 36 in the world, 11-4, 11-9, 6-11, 14-12 to claim one of the biggest scalps of his career.
UK-based Ali Fathi, at 76 the lowest-ranked player in the draw, now moves forward to face the highest - world No4 Karim Darwish, the top seed.
In their sixth Tour meeting since the year 2000, Darwish despatched PSA veteran Ong Beng Hee, the former world No7 from Malaysia, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9.
RESULTS: PSA International 50 Macau Open, Taipa, Macau
1st round:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-8, 11-6, 11-9
[Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-4, 11-9, 6-11, 14-12
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Muhd Asyraf Azan (MAS) 11-9, 11-3, 9-11, 11-5
[4] Tom Richards (ENG) bt Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 13-11
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-5, 11-7, 11-2
Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-5
Max Lee (HKG) bt Armando Amante (MAC) 11-4, 11-4, 11-4
[2] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 10-12, 11-9
Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Karim Darwish (EGY) v [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
[4] Tom Richards (ENG) v Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
[3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Marwan El Shorbagy (EGY)
[2] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) v Max Lee (HKG)
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