Abbas Claims Shock Win over Gohar, While Castagnet Halts Willstrop on Day One of British Open by Sean Reuthe
photos PSA
March 21, 2017
- 2016 Allam British Open runner-up Nouran Gohar fell to a shock defeat
in the opening round of the 2017 instalment of the iconic World Series
tournament after she succumbed to 16-year-old Egyptian qualifier Nada
Abbas.
Abbas, a two-time PSA World Tour title winner, counteracted Gohar’s
trademark hard-hitting style brilliantly, with the World No.45 slowing
the pace right down and controlling the ball well at the front of the
court to claim a stunning 12-10, 14-12, 5-11, 11-8 victory.
"It's a great feeling, it's the first time I've ever beaten anyone in
the top 10, I can't believe it," said Abbas, who will play Donna
Urquhart in the next round.
"I tried to break her game and to not let her play a fast game. I tried
to slow things down a little bit and go for shots in the front more.
"There's no pressure on me, so I want to play my best squash. I want to
go as far as I can, if I play like this then I could go to the
quarter-finals."
Abbas will be joined in round two by defending champion Nour El
Sherbini, who eased past Denmark’s Line Hansen in straight games.
El Sherbini looked comfortable as she eased her way into the tournament
with a 21-minute 11-5, 11-7, 11-3 victory to set down a marker for the
rest of the week.
“I feel like I’m playing well and I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes this week,” said El Sherbini.
“Winning here last year was very big for me. But I’m trying not to
think about being the defending champion – I’m trying to just win the
title again.
“I haven’t won a tournament for a while, but I’m happy with how I’m
playing and I’m pleased to back towards some of my best form."
There were also wins for 2015 champion Camille Serme, World No.3 Raneem
El Welily and five-time winner Nicol David - while home hero Laura
Massaro also got off to a winning start on day one.
“I’m happy to be back at the British Open," Massaro said.
"Being British myself makes this event even more special. There’s so
much history and prestige and it’s the first of the big events that I
won – and I made the final three years in a row as well, so it’s very
special for me.”
In the Men’s event, World No.19 Mathieu Castagnet upset England’s
three-time runner-up James Willstrop, with a 3-1 victory sending ‘The
Marksman’ out at the first hurdle.
Castagnet played out an entertaining, 71-minute encounter with
Willstrop as both players treated the spectators to some absorbing
rallies, and the opening two games saw each player claim a game apiece,
before the Frenchman eventually took the next two games to close it out
11-9, 10-12, 12-10, 11-9.
“To beat James, who is in great form at the moment and sixth in the
world is something special for me," said Castagnet, who will play Hong
Kong’s Max Lee next.
“I can feel his [Willstrop’s] depression, it’s such a big tournament
for him, it’s so important for him to represent his country at the
British Open. It is a big tournament for me, but it is different
because it is not my country."
Castagnet will line up against Hong Kong’s Max Lee in round two after
Lee completed a stunning comeback from two games down against World
No.7 Marwan ElShorbagy.
“It was amazing, but I have no idea how I did it,” Lee admitted.
“I’ve been ready to play the last three tournaments, but it didn’t go
well. The matches were even, long matches but my body cramps have been
quite strange. That’s why I rested a bit after Windy City. I didn’t
play Canary Wharf or any other tournaments and I’m a bit fresher.”
World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy was pushed hard against compatriot Fares
Dessouky, taking it 11-8 in the fifth as he looks to become the first
player since the legendary Jansher Khan in the 1990s to win three
British Open titles in a row.
The Egyptian, now based in Bristol, will hope to keep his winning run
going in Hull – where his status as World No.1 is also on the line with
both Karim Abdel Gawad and Gregory Gaultier in a position to overtake
ElShorbagy atop the standings.
“I’m playing with no expectations right now – but if I can be the first
player since Jansher to win three in a row I’d love that,” said
ElShorbagy.
“I’ve been No.1 for 28 months [in total], and I think it’s natural for that to catch up on you at some point.
“I knew there was going to be a point where my level would drop and the
motivation went a little. I think having that when I’m 26 is good for
me though because I can learn so much from this and come back stronger
– I’ve seen Nick [Matthew], Greg [Gaultier], [Amr] Shabana and all
those players go through these kind of times, so I know I can come out
stronger again at the end.”
Gawad and Gaultier both won on day one against Omar Mosaad and Miguel
Angel Rodriguez, respectively, while three-time winner Nick Matthew
defeated Spain’s Borja Golan.
Draw - Second Round:
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v Daryl Selby (ENG)
[Q] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) v [7] Ali Farag (EGY)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) v Paul Coll (NZL)
Simon Rösner (GER) v [4] Nick Matthew (ENG)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Cameron Pilley (AUS)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) v Max Lee (HKG)
[5] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v Diego Elias (PER)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v [2] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Draw - Second Round:
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [10] Annie Au (HKG)
[13] Emily Whitlock (ENG) v [8] Alison Waters (ENG)
[5] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [Q] Mayar Hany (EGY)
[12] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
[Q] Nada Abbas (EGY) v [15] Donna Urquhart (AUS)
Tesni Evans (WAL) v [7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[6] Nicol David (MAS) v [14] Joey Chan (HKG)
[11] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [2] Camille Serme (FRA)
