World No.1 ElShorbagy Escapes As Willstrop And Adnan Upset US Open Seedings by Nathan Clarke
photos squashpics.com
October 8, 2016
- World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy narrowly avoided a shock first round
exit at the 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open as he came from 2-1
down, saving multiple match balls, to defeat Mexican qualifier Cesar
Salazar during an opening day of action at Philadelphia’s Drexel
University that saw the Men’s draw blown wide open.
ElShorbagy, who won the tournament in 2014 to go top of the World
Rankings for the first time in his career, struggled to contain an
inspired Salazar during their 77 minute battle but managed to do just
enough in the end to escape the clutches of defat and avoid joining
World No.3 Omar Mosaad and number seven seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez in
exiting the event at the first hurdle, as they fell at the hands of
former World No.1 James Willstrop and Malaysian qualifier Nafiizwan
Adnan, respectively.
“Being World No.1 isn’t always about playing the best, but about finding the way to win,” said ElShorbagy.
“In the past two seasons I have played more matches than anyone else
and lately things have been going wrong with my body. I’ve had stomach
problems and fevers and been struggling.
“Today I fought and fought. I won - that’s what matters - and I’ll keep
fighting until the end. I’m really happy to come through - finding the
way to win is the most important thing and I know that I’ll definitely
be better next round after that match.”
32-year-old Englishman Willstrop evoked memories of the form that took
him to the top of the World Rankings in 2012 as he produced a virtuoso
display of complete control to knock out 2015 runner-up Mosaad in
straight games.
Willstrop, currently ranked No.19 in the world after slowly working his
way back from a serious hip operation in 2014, rekindled his form
during last week’s NetSuite Open when he reached a first high profile
tournament final since that surgery and he picked up where he left off
as he controlled the ball and lived up to his ‘Marksman’ moniker to put
Mosaad to the sword.
“I’m feeling good,” said Willstrop. “But it’s been a long time since
I’ve put together a tournament winning, or latter stages, run.
“Last week in San Francisco was good but doing it at a World Series
event is even tougher. I’m feeling good and if I can keep the intensity
then you never know what could happen.
“The enjoyment is there for me and there’s a freshness about how I feel which is pleasing.”
Willstrop will now face Mohamed Abouelghar in the second round of a
draw that is now wide open after Miguel Angel Rodriguez’s shock first
round defeat to Adnan - the 30-year-old Malaysian qualifier who came
through in straight-games to reach the second round of a PSA World
Series tournament for only the third time in his career.
“I’m really, really happy,” said Adnan. “I almost lost to Charles
Sharpes in the first round of qualification when I was 0-2 down. I told
myself just to play - that I had nothing to lose - and relax. That
worked and I tried to do the same today, and it is really pleasing to
win - it’s a big win for me.”
Elsewhere in the Men’s draw there was a impressive win for Peruvian
qualifier Diego Elias as he downed Frenchman Gregoire Marche while
England’s Chris Simpson came through against Egyptian Karim Ali Fathi.
It was more straightforward for the top seeds in the Women’s draw as
World No.1 Nour El Sherbini, three-time US Open champion Nicol David
and World No.5 Raneem El Welily all set down impressive markers to
stroll into the second round.
After returning to form at last month’s Al Ahram Open, where she
claimed the honours with victory over El Sherbini in the decider, El
Welily continued to impress as she saw off Belgian qualifier Nele Gilis
courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 win .
“I’m always happy to be back in the US Open - I always enjoy coming back here,” said El Welily.
“Looking back at Al Ahram really makes me smile but it is in the past
now. I want to make a strong push now and carry on that kind of form
for the rest of this tournament.”
El Sherbini was equally as impressive as she downed Japanese qualifier
Misaki Kobayashi 3-0 wile three-time US Open champion David got off to
a positive start to defeat Denmark’s Line Hansen in straight games and
set up a second round battle with Egyptian Nour El Tayeb - the 2015
runner-up.
David struggled at the first PSA World Series tournament of the season,
the Hong Kong Open, as she failed to hit her stride in the early stages
but she cut a different figure as she played with confidence and
precision to put in an assured 30 minute win over Hansen.
“It has been great to see the US Open grow over the past few years and be involved in this great tournament,” said David.
“A 3-0 win is always a good start for me and I’m pleased to get through
and get into the rhythm here on the glass court. You just have to keep
working harder and harder with each and every round and I’m looking
forward to playing against Nour (El Tayeb) in two days.”
The first round action continues from 12 noon local time at Drexel
University’s Daskalakis Athletic Centre on Sunday October 9, with
tickets for the PSA World Series tournament available to purchase by
visiting www.usopensquash.com
Results – Men’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Top Half
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 3-2; 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 13-11 (77m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 3-1: 11-7, 11-9, 12-14, 13-11 (70m)
[Q] Diego Elias (PER) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-1: 7-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 (60m)
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 3-1: 11-4, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8 (60m)
[Q] Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt [7] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 (67m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) - to be played October 9
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [Q] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (41m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 (56m)
Draw – Men’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Bottom Half
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [WC] Christopher Gordon (USA) - to be played October 9
Simon Rösner (GER) v [Q] Abdulla Al Tamimi (QAT) - to be played October 9
Leo Au (HKG) v Fares Dessouky (EGY) - to be played October 9
Ali Farag (EGY) v [8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) - to be played October 9
[5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Tom Richards (ENG) - to be played October 9
Max Lee (HKG) bt [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-1 (20m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [Q] Paul Coll (NZL) - to be played October 9
Daryl Selby (ENG) v [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) - to be played October 9
Draw – Women’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Bottom Half
[4] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [Q] Coline Aumard (FRA) - to be played October 9
[Q] Tesni Evans (WAL) v [14] Emily Whitlock (ENG) - to be played October 9
[15] Victoria Lust (ENG) v Donna Urquhart (AUS) - to be played October 9
Dipika Pallikal Karthik (IND) v [7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) - to be played October 9
[6] Camille Serme (FRA) v Delia Arnold (MAS) - to be played October 9
Joey Chan (HKG) v [12] Annie Au (HKG) - to be played October 9
[9] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v Heba El Torky (EGY) - to be played October 9
[Q] Kanzy Emad El Defrawy (EGY) v [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) - to be played October 9
