Max Lee Upsets World No 1 Elshorbagy in China Open First Round by Nathan Clarke September 3, 2015
- Hong Kong’s Max Lee pulled off one of the biggest wins of his career
as he knocked out reigning World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy in the first
round of the 2015 Stars On The Bund China Open during a day packed full
of surprises in Shanghai.
Wold No.18 Lee came from 2-1 down against Elshorbagy, who has been No.1
for 11 consecutive months, to complete a remarkable 3-2 win after just
over 70-minutes that sees him move into the quarter-finals and consign
Elshorbagy to a humbling defeat on his first outing following the
summer break.
Elshorbagy started brightly to take a tense opening game and, despite
rallying to take the third game and a potentially crucial 2-1 lead,
looked out of sorts as Lee pressed his advantage to secure the match
and set up a last eight encounter with Marwan Elshorbagy - younger
brother of Mohamed and current World No.12 - after he too upset the
odds to defeat compatriot Tarek Momen.
Lee’s victory made it a double delight for Hong Kong as Leo Au, who
vanquished former World No.1 James Willstrop in a huge qualification
upset to earn his first round berth, produced a second successive
giant-killing performance, taking out World No.7 Simon Rösner after a
compelling 52-minute, 3-1 encounter.
England’s Tom Richards completed a quartet of upsets in the first round
as he ruthlessly saw off compatriot Peter Barker, the World No.8, in a
powerful 3-0 performance to set up a quarter-final match up with French
World No.2 and new tournament favourite Gregory Gaultier.
In the women’s PSA W50 tournament newly crowned World No.1 Raneem El
Welily showed no signs of nerves as she got her 2015/16 season off to a
winning start by seeing off compatriot Heba El Torky 3-1.
El Welily took just 32-minutes to ensure her place in the last eight as
she looks to get her reign as World No.1 off to a winning start but
knows a determined Nicol David, who El Welily knocked from top spot
after a nigh-year reign, could lay in wait if she reaches the final
after the Malaysian eased past Coline Aumard in her opening encounter.
American Amanda Sobhy, who dispatched Delia Arnold 3-0, and Frenchwomen
Camille Serme, who saw off former World No.2 Jenny Duncalf 3-1, will be
hoping two stop the charge of the top two as they impressed in their
respective first round victories while talented young Egyptian star
Nouran Gohar caused the only upset of the day by taking out number six
seed Joelle King in straight games.
PSA M100 - Quarter-final Draw:
Max Lee (HKG) v Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY)
[8] Borja Golan (ESP) v [4] Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[Q] Leo Au (HKG) v [7] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[Q] Tom Richards (ENG) v [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
PSA W50 - First Round Results:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Coline Aumard (FRA) 3-1: 11-6,11-8,10-12,11-5 (43 mins)
Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [6] Joelle King (NZL) 3-0: 14-12, 11-4, 11-5 (34 mins)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 3-2: 11-8,7-11,7-11,11-1,11-6 (53 mins)
[3] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 (45m)
[4] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [Q] Delia Arnold (MAS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-1, 11-6 (23 mins)
[8] Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt [WC] Teh Min Jie (MAS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (24mins)
[5] Annie Au (HKG) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 3-2: 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9 (64 mins)
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) 3-1: 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (32m)
PSA W50 - Quarter-final Draw:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v Nouran Gohar (EGY)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [3] Camille Serme (FRA)
[4] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [8] Emma Beddoes (ENG)
[5] Annie Au (HKG) v [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
