Elgawarhy Grabs First Tour Title In Tasmania
by Nathan Clarke

October 27, 2014 - Victory over the event's top three seeds led Egyptian teenager Mohamed Elgawarhy to claim his first PSA World Tour title success at the Tasmanian Open, the PSA Challenger 5 squash event at Devonport Squash Club in Devonport in Tasmania, Australia.

The 18-year-old from Cairo began his giant-killing run in the quarter-finals where he removed Gonzalo Miranda, the top seed from Argentina, in straight games.

In the semis, the seventh seed despatched third seed Leandro Romiglio – also from Argentina – to claim a place in his first Tour final.

Awaiting Elgawarhy in the final was a third Argentinean, Robertino Pezzota.  The No.2 seed was celebrating his sixth appearance in a Tour final – and the World No.108 duly took a 2/1 lead.

But despite a ranking gap of more than 100 positions, Elgawarhy battled back to take the next two games and earn the 76-minute 11-8, 5-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 upset which gave him a surprise place on the winner's podium.

RESULTS: PSA Challenger 5 Tasmanian Open, Devonport, Tasmania, Australia

1st round:
Federico Cioffi (ARG) bt Jordan Stokes (AUS) 11-2, 13-11, 11-5
Ben Takamizawa Harris (JPN) bt Mark Hudson (AUS) 11-1, 11-6, 11-1
[7] Mohamed Elgawarhy (EGY) bt Jack Hudson (AUS) 11-3, 11-7, 11-7
[5] Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt Tim Shaw (AUS) 11-1, 11-1, 11-2
Hesham Mohamed Aly (EGY) bt Peter Braddow (AUS) 11-1, 11-5, 11-2
Lewis Doughty (ENG) bt Matthew McConnell (AUS) 11-6, 11-8, 11-7
[3] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt Hamish Laws (AUS) 11-5, 11-6, 11-5
[4] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) bt Jesse Youd (AUS) 11-4, 11-3, 11-5
Luke Stewart (ENG) bt David Mulcahy (AUS) 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9
Paul Brewtnall (AUS) bt George Moore (AUS) 11-4, 11-7, 11-5
[8] Darcy Evans (AUS) bt Brodie Stokes (AUS) 11-6, 11-1, 11-5
[6] Christo Potgieter (RSA) bt Jamie Pattinson (AUS) 11-2, 11-4, 11-2
David Clegg (AUS) bt Mike Haybittel (AUS) 11-3, 11-5, 8-11, 11-2
Ahmed Effat Ashoush (EGY) bt Rod Harker (AUS) 11-2, 11-4, 11-4
    2nd round:
[1] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) bt Federico Cioffi (ARG) 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-6 (42m)
[7] Mohamed Elgawarhy (EGY) bt Ben Takamizawa Harris (JPN) 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (15m)
[5] Rhys Dowling (AUS) bt Hesham Mohamed Aly (EGY) 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (29m)
[3] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt Lewis Doughty (ENG) 11-7, 11-7, 11-1 (37m)
[4] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) bt Luke Stewart (ENG) 11-4, 11-13, 11-3, 11-1 (30m)
[8] Darcy Evans (AUS) bt Paul Brewtnall (AUS) 11-4, 11-7, 13-11 (19m)
[6] Christo Potgieter (RSA) bt David Clegg (AUS) w/o
[2] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) bt Ahmed Effat Ashoush (EGY) 11-8, 11-3, 11-9 (33m)
    Quarter-finals:
[7] Mohamed Elgawarhy (EGY) bt [1] Gonzalo Miranda (ARG) 11-5, 11-3, 11-5 (26m)
[3] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt [5] Rhys Dowling (AUS) 11-2, 9-11, 4-11, 11-3, 11-6 (53m)
[4] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) bt [8] Darcy Evans (AUS) 11-4, 11-8, 11-3 (30m)
[2] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) bt [6] Christo Potgieter (RSA) 11-4, 11-8, 13-11 (42m)
    Semi-finals:
[7] Mohamed Elgawarhy (EGY) bt [3] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-3 (53m)
[2] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) bt [4] Jean-Pierre Brits (RSA) 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (47m)
    Final:
[7] Mohamed Elgawarhy (EGY) bt [2] Robertino Pezzota (ARG) 11-8, 5-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 (76m)

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