Cincinnati

Semis

[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-0 [4] Rowan Elaraby  12-10, 11-6, 11-9 (38m)

Quarters

[4] Rowan Elaraby 3-0 Kenzy Ayman  11-7, 10-12, 11-5, 11-4 (34m)
[2] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-0 Fayrouz Aboelkheir  11-9, 11-2, 11-3 (25m)

No.4 seed Rowan Elaraby took on compatriot Kenzy Ayman in the third match of the day, after the latter’s upset victory over Wales’ Emily Whitlock in round 2.

The 23-year-old was quick around the court and played consistently good length, but any loose balls were dealt with definitively by Ayman. Elaraby earned an early lead as she took the first game 11-7. The second game was marred by referee interference as multiple decisions disrupted the flow of the game. The stop-and-start nature worked in the 19-year-old’s favour as she played accurate winners and levelled the match in a close-fought tiebreak win.

The World No.12 pushed on from that point, getting the better of the longer rallies and not giving Ayman any loose balls to work with. Elaraby quickly won the final two games in quick succession 11-5, 11-4 to book her place in tomorrow’s semi finals. The No.4 seed looked back on her performance after the match.

“I don’t think I played my best squash today, but it’s always messy when you play an upcoming opponent. She’s young, she’s got nothing to lose so I think she played her best squash and I was caught in the middle with the messiness of her game plan.

“When I lost the second game, I tried to get back to my original game plan, do some tight work and I’m glad it worked. It’s tough to keep yourself focused, so I did my best today to keep myself in the moment and keep it together.”

Round 2

[3] Olivia Weaver (USA) 3-0 Mariam Metwally  11-7, 11-6, 12-10 (28m)
[1] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 3-0 Nadine Shahin  11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (22m)
Kenzy Ayman 3-2 [8] Emily Whitlock (WAL)  12-10, 1-11, 11-9, 8-11, 13-11 (55m)
[4] Rowan Elaraby3-2 Jasmine Hutton (ENG)  8-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-9 (58m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir3-1 [5] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)  5-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (42m)

Egypt’s Kenzy Ayman wowed the Cincinnati crowd on day two of the Bahl and Gaynor Cincinnati Gaynor Cup as she defeated World No.23 Emily Whitlock in five games. The World No.45 got the better of a 12-10 tie break in game one, but had to bounce back after conceding the second game 11-1.

The pair took a game apiece to take the match to a fifth game. Whitlock earned two match balls, but failed to convert and Ayman overturned the deficit and came out the victor at 13-11.

“It was really tough,” said Ayman afterwards. “Emily is really tough. I’m really happy with my performance and winning today is really big for me. “To play in round three of a big event means a lot for me and I’m really excited to play tomorrow.”

Fayrouz Aboelkheir came back from 1-0 down to score an upset over No.5 seed Sarah-Jane Perry while compatriot Rowan Elaraby won the other five-game match of the day against England’s Jasmine Hutton in a close affair.

Round 1

Mariam Metwally 3-2 Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 12-10, 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-1 (54m)
Nadine Shahin 3-0 Danielle Ray (CAN)  11-7, 11-5, 11-6 (21m)
Kenzy Ayman3-0 Alicia Mead (ENG)  11-5, 11-8, 14-12 (28m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir 3-0 Ineta Hopton (LAT)  11-3, 11-3, 11-7 (16m)

Women’s $75k PSA Silver, 31 Jan – 04 Feb, Cincinnati, USA

 

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