Chicago Open

Finals                    SquashSite Coverage

[1] Ali Farag 3-2 [5] Paul Coll (Nzl)                  12-14, 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-1 (77m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini 3-2 [1] Raneem El Welily    11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-9 (59m)

Two New Windy City Open Champions:
Ali was 2/0 down, takes 19th PSA title… Nour not at her best physically manages to clinch her first Chicago City Open title…

 

Ali Farag
“I was telling Nour after the second that I still had it in me to win the last three games. I could have been the one that was 2-0 up but all credit to Paul, after beating Mohamed and Karim and I was out of it after the second.I tried to hang in there and at least if I didn’t win it then I had put some work into his legs. It has been a great week for myself and I could not be prouder.

First of all, I would like to thank my brother and his wife for staying so strong. I take inspiration from them every day and this one is for them. Karim Darwish for always letting me believe in myself. He keeps telling me that I am the best player and that pays off. My parents, they are up every morning to watch matches, and last but not least, Nour has been a great inspiration.

Nour El Sherbini
Finally I got to win this tournament. Every year I try very hard and I think Raneem is the favourite here. She has won it three times before and she plays her best here, but I am glad it was my turn this time. This is one of the few tournaments I had not won so it was very important for me to win this title.
I am really grateful that the tournament is over because I have been suffering the whole week with illness, and it was very hard for me physically and mentally to prepare for every match and try to be fit and ready. I wasn’t feeling very well and I was dealing with a lot, but I am really glad that I made it to the last day and that I kept digging in until the last point in the match.

Semis

[1] Ali Farag 3-0 [3] Tarek Momen                      12-10, 11-2, 11-8 (37m)
[5] Paul Coll (Nzl) 3-1 [4] Karim Abdel Gawad  11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9 (80m)

[1] Raneem El Welily 3-0 [3] Nouran Gohar            11-5, 11-8, 11-9 (31m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini 3-0 [8] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng)  11-7, 11-4, 11-8 (31m)

Raneem El Welily
“I don’t think I was one of those people who predicted this result. I’m pleased to get through in three today, maybe not the best squash from both of us, but I’m pleased to have found a way to scrap the third one, especially. I was just trying to mix it, hit hard a little bit and thank god the ball wasn’t a flier today, otherwise I would have been completely screwed.

“I’m very proud to be part of such a great sport, I think we’re the first sport to have equal prize money for men and women. It doesn’t happen in any other sport as far as I know. Chicago has obviously been one of those tournaments which started things for us a few years ago.

DRAWS & RESULTS PSA LIVE SCORING LIVE & HIGHLIGHTS

Quarters

[1] Ali Farag 3-0 [6] Diego Elias (Per)                                     11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (49m)
[3] Tarek Momen 3-0 Borja Golan (Esp)                    11-7, 3-11, 11-6, 4-11, 11-3 (60m)
[4] Karim Abdel Gawad 3-2 [7] Simon Rösner (Ger)     3-11, 11-3, 11-6, 3-11, 11-7 (70m)
[5] Paul Coll (Nzl) 3-0 [2] Mohamed ElShorbagy                     12-10, 11-7, 11-6 (51m)

[1] Raneem El Welily 3-0 [15] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (Usa)        11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (29m)
[3] Nouran Gohar 3-0 [7] Amanda Sobhy (Usa)                       11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (30m)
[8] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) 3-2 Rowan Elaraby        11-8, 5-11, 14-12, 9-11, 11-7 (65m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini 3-1 [5] Camille Serme (Fra)             11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9 (45m)

The video you didn’t get to see. As my interview after the match last night against Paul was not posted on Twitter, I…

Gepostet von Mohamed Elshorbagy am Dienstag, 3. März 2020

 

Tarek Momen
Borja loves Chicago, he’s had some incredible performances here.  Today was unreal, the gets he was getting, the physicality he was showing on court, it doesn’t show that he is 37, he could play for three or four more years. He played a very good match and I’m very happy to get through in five.

Ever since we got here, in practise every morning the balls were all fliers like this. I was a bit concerned that it might be something up with the court, but then I thought that it was the same court and same conditions, so it can’t be the court.

When I played my first match it was completely different, I had a decent bouncing ball, and it was the same in the second match. I was surprised to get one of those fast balls in my match today. I hope it gets sorted but it can affect the rhythm of the game.

At the end of the day, I think we played a very decent match and we had to adapt to the conditions. It was new for us, but I didn’t change it at the end of the third, because I thought I might get an even faster ball. Usually in a box all the balls are the same, so if he [the referee] gave me one from the same box then it would be just as fast.

I’ve had several wins against both Mohamed ElShorbagy and Farag, they’ve beaten me also, and Karim Gawad is in the mix too. Mohamed and Ali have been a bit more consistent than the rest of us but I’m trying to catch up. I’m getting some good wins now and I’m hoping to start to replace both of them at the top.

Round Three – Bottom Draw

Bad news for the Tour as Mazen Hesham is injured and won’t be able to play his third round match against Mohamed ElShorbagy tonight in Chicago. Hesham, the World No.14, sustained the injury during his first round fixture against compatriot Mohamed ElSherbini and fought through the pain barrier against Mexico’s Cesar Salazar to reach the last 16 of the PSA Platinum event.

Hania, well, what a match. Last time those two played was at the worlds and Hania came back from 2/0 down to take the match on tie-break. Last time, Hania didn’t have any pressure. This time she had. And she played it beautifully. She saved a match ball in the 5th, bows 11/9. But she proves she was not a fluke. She belongs to the top 5. Before going higher.

Rowan Elaraby 3-0 Lucy Turmel (Eng)                                   11-7, 11-7, 11-1 (29m)
[8] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) 3-2 [14] Yathreb Adel      7-11, 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9 (84m)
[5] Camille Serme (Fra) 3-2 [9] Hania El Hammamy  11-7, 10-12, 7-11, 14-12, 11-9 (81m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini 3-1 Donna Lobban (Aus)                   5-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-8 (33m)

[4] Karim Abdel Gawad 3-0 Mathieu Castagnet (Fra)                11-8, 11-6, 11-8 (43m)
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy bt Mazen Hesham   w.o.

Karim Abdel Gawad
I’ve been on tour for 12 years and we never played; I don’t want to say too much so the PSA don’t put him against me too much!

He is extremely fit and he is a fighter, he keeps going even if he is tired. He played a 100-minute match with Saurav two days ago, now he is playing as if it’s the first match of the tournament.

All credit to him, he’s got great spirit on court and off court too. Castagnet makes you run the whole match, he moves you around the court and it’s difficult to find winners. Without seeing it, I was expecting it [his heart rate] to be close to 200bpm, if not above, but I’m really happy to get through in three.

Rowan ElAraby
I was so nervous at the beginning of the match. I’ve played really well throughout the week and I wanted to continue playing like this. It was such a good opportunity for me and her and it was big for me to play really well, so I’m happy to get through this match.

I like playing short, so I guess my game plan was to do that.

We all train with each other in Cairo and we train together with the top players, Raneem, Nour and I guess that’s the reason why we’re all good. Raneem, I love watching her and the way she plays, and I look up to her.

Hania El Hammamy
Wasn’t meant to be tonight in Chicago. Gave it my all against a very tough Camille Serme. Enjoyed every second of it and can’t wait to face more battles.

Nour El Sherbini
“I am happy to be through, and maybe I was not like I am usually, but I am very happy to be through to the quarters. Having my coach and Raneem there, their support helped me a lot, and having them there tonight helped me through to win.
Camille and Hania had a very tough match, a long one. I am sure Camille is going to be ready tomorrow as if it was the first match of the tournament.”

Round Three – Top Draw

[15] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (Usa) 3-2 Nadine Shahin   8-11, 11-6, 11-3, 9-11, 11-9 (49m)
[1] Raneem El Welily 3-0 [12] Salma Hany                                11-6, 11-3, 11-6 (22m)
[3] Nouran Gohar 3-0 [16] Nele Gilis (Bel)                                11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (24m)

Borja Golan (Esp) 3-1 Youssef Soliman       8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (67m)
[1] Ali Farag 3-0 Omar Mosaad                      13-11, 11-5, 11-6 (42m)
[3] Tarek Momen 3-1 Iker Pajares (Esp)      11-5, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5 (46m)

Nouran Gohar
“I was very accurate. There was nothing special. I just wanted to focus on hitting my targets from the very first point and I know if I have it right from the very beginning then it helps me later on

“Today, I did not hit everything hard. I was trying to lob. Little bit at the end. That is the strongest part of my game, hitting it hard and accurately. There is plenty of other things to work on with my game, and I want to be that complete player.

“I have a huge team behind me who are helping me to play my best game, and they have been through a really hard time. I cannot take this form for granted so I am always trying to improve. I am really pleased with my form at this point, but to improve, I have to do a lot more.”

Raneem ElWelily
“You could obviously see some strapping on Salma’s knee. At her last tournament, something happened to her kneecap. Obviously, it was not her best physically today, which helped me a bit. A bit unfortunate, but I am very happy to see that she is actually playing even after this unfortunate injury, and I am sure that she will come back even stronger. You try not to count on the injury at all. You try to leave it behind and pretend as if it hasn’t happened, but you know it does affect your opponent.

“Olivia is a good friend and we have practiced together the last few days. I am very pleased to see her in the quarters. It is a very good result for her and hopefully it will be an exciting match. She is very quick so it will be an interesting match for sure!”

 

Ali Farag
“The first game was crucial. I played Omar last week at the Egyptian Nationals and I never feel comfortable against him. He hits very good straight lines, so it is always a struggle to find a good gameplan against him.

“If I was to lose the first then I had to put some work into his body, but luckily I was able to win the game, saving three game balls, so that was crucial. Then I ran away with the second but then I started to see the finish line way to soon, and Omar will punish you if you do that.”

Tarek Momen
“I honestly thought that today was one of the best matches I have played in a very long time and I thought I was going to close it down in three.  In that third game I was playing as well as the first two. He started to pick it up a bit but I was still feeling good on court but then all of a sudden he stepped it up another gear. I didn’t made too many mistakes, he just played really well to sneak that one.

“Borja is one of the veterans of the game. I have played him many times in the past and we have always had tough battles. I have so much respect for him because he has so much grit. He is still making the quarters of big events. I know I am in for a tough match because I know he can be very dangerous on his day.”

Round Two

[1] Ali Farag 3-1 Leo Au (Hkg)                        11-6, 7-11, 11-3, 11-5 (38m)
Omar Mosaad 3-2 Gregory Gaultier (Fra)  7-11, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6 (71m)
[6] Diego Elias (Per) 3-0 Fares Dessouky                  11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (39m)
Youssef Soliman3-1 [8] Marwan ElShorbagy     11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 11-5 (49m)
[3] Tarek Momen 3-0 Raphael Kandra (Ger)            11-8, 11-3, 12-10 (31m)
[4] Karim Abdel Gawad 3-0 Miguel Rodriguez (Col)    11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (47m)
Adrian Waller (Eng) 3-1 Zahed Salem            11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8 (54m)
[7] Simon Rösner (Ger) 3-2 Mohamed Abouelghar  8-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-8 (73m)
Mazen Hesham 3-0 Cesar Salazar (Mex)                11-6, 11-6, 12-10 (37m)
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy 3-0 Daryl Selby (Eng)       11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (30m)

[1] Raneem El Welily 3-0 Julianne Courtice (Eng)              11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (26m)
[12] Salma Hany 3-0 Coline Aumard (Fra)                       11-6, 11-7, 11-7 (29m)
Nadine Shahin 3-0 [6] Joelle King (Nzl)                           11-8, 11-7, 11-4 (23m)
[3] Nouran Gohar 3-0 Low Wee Wern (Mas)                       11-7, 11-4, 11-2 (26m)
Rowan Elaraby 3-1 [4] Nour El Tayeb                       6-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 (36m)
[14] Yathreb Adel 3-0 Sabrina Sobhy (Usa)                     12-10, 11-9, 11-1 (32m)
[5] Camille Serme (Fra) 3-0 [17/32] Mariam Metwally   11-2, 11-3, 1-0 retired (15m)
[9] Hania El Hammamy 3-1 Tinne Gilis (Bel)                9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-8 (45m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini 3-0 Joey Chan (Hkg)                       11-6, 11-4, 12-10 (23m)

Karim Abdel Gawad
Miguel is always tough to play, we played last time in 2015 and I watched some of our old matches and I noticed how tough he is. I really enjoy watching him play, he’s a fun guy on court and he’s very fit. He’s one of the coolest guys on tour so you always expect cool stuff from him. I really like his new look, I like it on him, it’s his character and we all love him like this.

The blood rule is a bit frustrating for me and the opponent. I think this rule has to change because when we stop like this it’s bad for me and him. To enjoy playing and keep going is the best thing to do.

Rowan ElAraby
It feels amazing, this win means a lot to me. My victory at the Nationals actually gave me confidence that I can beat top 10 players, and I’m really happy with this win. It’s totally different than the Nationals, there is more of a vibe here.
I’ve never been here playing at this venue, and I feel comfortable playing on this court. The crowd is amazing as well, so I’m very happy playing here.

 

Round One

PSAReports
Egypt’s World No.19 Mostafa Asal slumped to a surprise defeat against compatriot Youssef Soliman in a 109-minute battle which was halted due to a 35-minute injury break during the first game.
Mostafa left court on a wheelchair in the opener after going down with an injury to his right leg, but he hobbled back onto court and fought through the pain barrier to lead 2-1. The 18-year-old then went 6-1 up in the decider, only to see Soliman take 10 points in a row to finally halt the World Junior Champion.

Omar Mosaad  3-0 Ramit Tandon (Ind)                         12-10, 12-10, 11-3 (41m)
Youssef Soliman 3-2 Mostafa Asal                12-10, 8-11, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6 (109m)
Mazen Hesham  3-2 Mohamed Elsherbini      12-14, 11-9, 5-11, 12-10, 11-8 (70m)

Coline Aumard (Fra) bt [WC] Hana Moataz             11-6, 11-4, 14-16, 11-8 (47m)
Nadine Shahin 3-1 Mayar Hany                          10-12, 12-10, 11-9, 11-9 (45m)
Rowan Elaraby 3-0 Lee Ka Yi (HKG)                              11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (21m)
Sabrina Sobhy (Usa) 3-2 Nada Abbas         4-11, 14-12, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8 (50m)
Melissa Alves (Fra) 3-2 Zeina Mickawy         7-11, 4-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-8 (51m)
Mariam Metwally 3-2 Alexandra Fuller (RSA)  6-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-1, 11-3 (35m)

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