18-Year-Old Gohar Ends David's 10 Year Hong Kong Reign by Nathan Clarke
photos PSA
August 27, 2016 -
18-year-old World Junior Champion Nouran Gohar followed up her
quarter-final victory over 2015 runner-up and World No.2 Laura Massaro
with a sumptuous performance to end World No.3 Nicol David's
unprecedented 10-year winning-streak at the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai
Financial Hong Kong Open and secure a place in the final.
David had gone an astonishing 58 matches unbeaten at the PSA World
Series tournament, a streak that extended back beyond 2006, but came
unstuck against a rampant Gohar, who utilised her ferocious power and
attacking pace to outmuscle the Malaysian, who yesterday celebrated her
33rd birthday, 11-9, 11-7, 11-13, 11-9.
"I can't believe it - it's like a dream," said Gohar.
"I came here with no expectations and I just wanted to try and play well - so to be in the final is very pleasing.
"Nicol is a legend and she has been my idol since I was young but the
Women's Tour is becoming so competitive now. There is nothing between
the top eight to ten players and it keeps getting harder.
"I was 2-0 up but both games were close and they could have gone either way. I really couldn't believe it in the end."
Gohar will now face American Amanda Sobhy in the finale after the
23-year-old from Boston pulled off her own upset to defeat World No.1
and World Champion Nour El Sherbini courtesy of a spell-binding
straight games victory.
Sobhy came from 0-4 down in the first game to then save five game balls
and swing the early momentum to take the opening game 12-10 and inflict
a blow that 20-year-old El Sherbini couldn't recover from.
"It took a little bit to get used to her pace at the start - she's not World No.1 for nothing," said Sobhy.
"At the start, I felt that I was just running and trying to retrieve,
so I told myself to get into it, try and get the ball to the back and
I'm very pleased with how I was able to come back.
"I think the first game was extremely important, given the fact I was
10-5 down. If she had won that game, it would have given her a lot of
momentum, so the fact that I was able to win that, I think that the
momentum shifted and I was able to build on a lot of confidence.
"I'm very excited to be in the final - it's amazing to be in my second
World Series final and my first in Hong Kong. I absolutely love Hong
Kong and I usually do very well here, so I hope to keep the momentum
going tomorrow and maybe do one better."
In the men's draw home hero Max Lee's unexpected run finally came to a
halt at the hands of maverick Egyptian Ramy Ashour, the three-time
World Champion and 2012 Hong Kong Open champion.
Lee had delighted the crowd inside Hong Kong Park Sports Centre to
become the first home player in 30 years to reach the last four but he
couldn't stop a resurgent Ashour, who continued to play his unique
blend of squash in a a 3-0 win.
"Last time I was here, I got kicked out of the quarter-finals, so to be in the final is a great feeling," said Ashour.
"Especially against a great opponent like Max, his squash is incredibly different and it took a lot out of me today.
"I'm happy with my performance, I'm glad that my body is holding up and
everything is in place. I'm looking forward to playing tomorrow."
Ashour will face compatriot Karim Abdel Gawad in what will be the
25-year-old's first ever appearance in a World Series tournament final
after he downed Australian challenger Ryan Cuskelly.
"I'm so happy, I can't describe the feeling," said Gawad.
"I was in control during the first two games but then he came back very
strong and he was probably in control for the third and most of the
fourth. I just gave everything to try and win that fourth because I
knew he was getting better an better and a fifth game would be good for
him.
"It has been a tough tournament and so many players have gone out. I
had never reached the quarters here before so to be in the final in a
great thing, but I don't want to get over excited either.
"There is still another match to play and I need to stay focused to come out and try and perform in that one."
2016 Hong Kong Open – Men’s Semi-final Results:
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 3-1: 11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 12-10 (61m)
Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Max Lee (HKG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (39m)
2016 Hong Kong Open – Final Draw:
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Ramy Ashour (EGY)
2016 Hong Kong Open - Women's Semi-final Results:
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 3-0: 12-10, 11-5, 11-6 (33m)
[5] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [4] Nicol David (MAS) 3-1: 11-9, 11-7, 11-13, 11-9 (57m)
2016 Hong Kong Open - Women's Final Draw:
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [5] Nouran Gohar (EGY)
