World No 1s El Sherbini, Elshorbagy Advance on Day 1 at the Pyramids by Nathan Clarke
photos squashpics.com
September 19, 2016
- The opening day of action at the 2016 Al Ahram Squash Open NewGiza
saw Egypt underline its position as the leading force in world squash
as World No.1s Mohamed ElShorbagy and Nour El Sherbini led an eleven
strong local contingent into the quarter-finals of the M100 and W100
tournaments that are taking place in the shadow of the iconic Great
Pyramid of Giza.
In the first match to take place at the location - one of the most
iconic in all of world sport - in a decade, Women's No.1 Nour El
Sherbini put aside the distractions to defeat Australian Rachael
Grinham 3-0 and set up a last eight meeting with Omneya Abdel Kawy.
"I've been really excited since I knew the tournament was happening," said El Sherbini afterwards.
"It was my first ever time here at the Pyramids so it was very
exciting. The court is amazing from the inside - and I think it will be
even more amazing later in the week.
"But I had to focus really hard to play my game and focus on the squash and I'm happy to come through."
Joining El Sherbini and Kawy in the last eight are former World No.1
Raneem El Welily and tournament wildcard Nour El Tayeb, who pulled off
the biggest win of the day as she turned the form book upside down to
stun the in-form World No.4 Nouran Gohar - winner of last month's Hong
Kong Open - in a thrilling five-game battle at the secondary court.
El Tayeb went 6-0 down in the first game as Gohar picked up where she
left off last time out, playing at full power to annihilate the ball
and leave her opponent stranded, but turned it around in the second to
set up a thrilling finale that ebbed and flowed until El Tayed edged it
to ensure she will play at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Giza in the
last eight.
"I was so scared of being bageled in that first game - she was playing
so well and it was hard to get into the match," said El tayeb.
"I've been working on my attitude and to keep pushing regardless of the
score. I kept pushing and stayed positive and she started to make
errors and I was back in it so it's a very good day.
"It's a dream come true to be on the glass court. I remember going
there in 2001 and it was so exciting - I can't believe I will now be
there but I have to treat it just like another venue."
In the Men's draw ElShorbagy avenged two consecutive defeats to
Australian Cameron Pilley to ensure he got his campaign off to a
winning start at the head of a seven-strong Egyptian contingent and
he'll be aiming to end all international interest in the tournament
tomorrow when he takes on Germany's Simon Rösner.
ElShorbagy lost out to Pilley in last month's Hong Kong Open - a
tournament compatriot Ramy Ashour went on to win - but made amends by
coming through 3-1, although he looked far from comfortable on court.
"I was really nervous throughout the match," said ElShorbagy.
"He wasn't playing his best and he almost took me out today. The last
two times we played, he beat me and he was playing incredibly well so
today, being in Egypt as well, made it extra tough.
"I had to be mentally strong - I wanted to win today however it took and I'm happy about that."
Coming into the tournament 28-year-old Ashour was the only player in
the Men's draw to have previously played at the Pyramids, when he lost
to Gregory Gaultier in 2006, and he'll be hoping to reverse his fortune
on the after seeing off the challenge of Omar Abdel Meguid on the
secondary court to move into the last eight.
"The name of the tournament and the prestige of it is on your mind and
I think if you asked every Egyptian player they all think the same
about this tournament - there is so much energy in this area and it is
so special," said the three-time World Champion.
"When I was a kid I used to go there and watch the matches. I didn't
have a ticket one time and I remember crying to the security guards to
try and get up there and it being one of the worst days of my life.
"I remember the goose bumps and the atmosphere of being up there. I
only played there once and lost, so I'll try and change that record
now."
Draw - Women's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
[8] Alison Waters (ENG) v [WC] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [7] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [2] Nicol David (MAS)
