Singapore

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Final

[2] Joelle King (NZL) 3-0 [3] Nour El Tayeb  11-6, 12-10, 11-4 (40m)

Semis

[3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 3-1 [1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 (47m)

[3] Diego Elias (PER) 3-0 [2] Mostafa Asal  11-9, 5-0 retired (37m)

Tayeb
“It feels great! It is a very nice win, a very big win for me today, to back up yesterday and to come today. Amanda is playing well and at the beginning I thought she was going to be tired, so I went short a bit too soon, thinking she would be tired from yesterday’s match but she wasn’t.

“It took a lot to adjust to be even with her, in terms of squash. I am glad I am stuck, grateful that I was able to hang in there, to get the win.

“You can keep praising the game, it is nice to hear that! Hopefully tomorrow’ opponent heard it as well! It is exciting to be able to play this way again. I am very happy, grateful, to be able to play at this level, to make it to the final of a Gold event in Singapore. It is all very exciting! One more match tomorrow, it is very exciting for me!”

Quarters

[3] Diego Elias (PER) 3-0 [7] Mazen Hesham  11-9, 11-2, 11-9 (37m)
[2] Mostafa Asal 3-0 [8] Victor Crouin (FRA) 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 (39m)

[3] Nour El Tayeb 3-0 [5] Rowan Elaraby 12-10, 11-4, 11-4 (29m)

Nour
“You know, coming up against Rowan is tough. Lately, we have become very good friends, she is like a younger sister. I hate playing against her and she knows it,” El Tayeb said.

“Last time, two weeks ago, she beat me 2-0 in Zurich. I tried to play better and learn from the last match. It is always tough playing against her, and I think there was something wrong with her in the middle of the match. It is always tough to play against someone who is not moving well but is very skilful. I am very pleased with my performance, and definitely pleased to be in the semis here.

“I am playing against someone [Amanda Sobhy] who likes high intensity as well, so I will have to see about that. Amanda and I, we were joking about how we have played a lot this season. This is already our fourth time against each other. We are good friends, we have been playing together for over, what is it.. 15 years. It will be a fun, fair and tough match, for sure.”

Asal

“It’s amazing to be here again, thanks for the crowd for coming today. It’s an honour to be here and playing one of the best tournaments.

Victor [Crouin] is one of the toughest opponents to play, he’s my generation. We didn’t play together in the World Junior Championships but I saw him in the finals as I was losing in the quarters. So to play against him and to see my generation playing with me makes me feel I’m not alone with all the older guys here.”

Round Two

[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 3-0 Nadine Shahin  11-3, 12-10, 11-7 (24m)
[5] Rowan Elaraby 3-1 Rachel Arnold (MAS)  12-14, 11-9, 11-5, 11-3 (39m)
[3] Nour El Tayeb 3-0 Aifa Azman (MAS)  11-6, 16-14, 11-4 (28m)
[8] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-0 Salma Hany  11-8, 11-6, 11-8 (34m)

[5] Tarek Momen 3-2 Miguel Rodriguez (COL)  11-8, 11-5, 4-11, 7-11, 11-6 (68m)
[3] Diego Elias (PER) 3-0 Moustafa El Sirty  11-8, 11-6, 11-9 (38m)
[7] Mazen Hesham 3-0 Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT)  11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (33m)
[2] Mostafa Asal 3-0 Patrick Rooney (ENG)  11-5, 11-3, 11-9 (36m)

Hesham:

“It was really entertaining, I think we’re two of the most entertaining players on tour, it’s always tough playing him, he twists and turns you so I had to stay focused and try to absorb what I could.
“At the end of the third he started to find more winners so I had to be more careful because he hit some shots when I was 7-4 up and they didn’t go my way so I had to keep it tight and it paid off. We had a long rally at 9-9 then I had a good squeeze on the backhand side.
“It’s very tough, I played Diego a few times over the years, we’re good friends off court and I think it will be a good one for the crowd and a tough one for us.”
Tarek

“It’s very tough and tricky. He has a way of enjoying himself on court the whole time, and some days he can do that and play really well. In the third game, he started to find his range and play really well, I was disappointed with my third game only because I had the lead and worked hard to get a 2-0 lead but lost focus in the third which gave him momentum and I gave it away so easily.

I tried to get into the fourth but he was controlling the pace, so in the fifth, I started to push ahead and play at a higher pace. Thanks to Rowan [Elaraby] for reminding me of these things in between games and I’m just glad to get the win because I could have lost that match.

The mentality I had in the fifth was big, we’re both so experienced and even though he came back I knew that if I played my game I could turn it around again. Halfway through the fifth, it was 5-5 and I had to stay mentally sharp and focused and just believe that I could run away with a few points and thankfully this happened again.”

Rowan
“We played like four times this season and each time was very tense, so I wasn’t expecting less. Rachel is a very tricky opponent and I have a lot of respect for her so I’m glad I’m through. I’m just looking forward to tomorrow.”
Nour El Tayeb
“I’m very happy to win my first match in Singapore, I’m happy with my performance and hopefully I can keep it going.
“I had a lead in the second game but then I lost a bit of focus, then she played very well and played a lot better than she did so I’m very glad I stayed in there. It was crucial to go 2-0 up and then I managed to stay confident and overall, very happy.”
Mostafa

“It was a tough one!

“It was an amazing match today. I think the jet lag is killing us all together. Patrick is an amazing player. Clean, fair player, so I want to thank him for that, this is the way we want to play with free-flowing squash. I’m now looking forward to my next match!”

“Thanks to the crowd for coming today, it is the early shift. I am happy to be here, my first time in Singapore. I want to thank everyone who supported us to make this amazing tournament. It is an amazing crowd, since day one here!

Round One

Nele Gilis (BEL) 3-1 Mariam Metwally  9-11, 11-8, 11-1, 11-4 (34m)
[9/16] Nadine Shahin 3-1 Low Wee Wern (Mas) 10-12, 11-8, 13-11, 11-7 (43m)
[9/16] Salma Hany  3-0 Alexandra Fuller (Rsa)  11-9, 12-10, 11-9 (33m)

[9/16] Fares Dessouky v Abdulla Al Tamimi (Qat) – FARES WITHDRAWS

El Sirty
“Baptiste is such a good player and he shows a lot of quality every time we play. Last time we played was eight months ago and he won 2-0, it was close. I am really glad to come through in three, and I am really looking forward to the next match.

“Singapore is such a chilled country. I was talking to Mazen [Hesham] this morning, and it is such a good country, everyone is really nice here. I am really liking it here and hopefully it goes well in the next round.

“Diego is a top five player, and the last time I played him, it didn’t go well. Hopefully this time it goes better and I will be prepared for it.”

Nadine

“Nobody with this talent, or squash skills can ever… No matter how many years or injuries, you cannot take away that talent.

“She has always had it; she has always had those skills. She also showed great athleticism today, so you wouldn’t know that she was injured. I am just glad to have her back. It was one of the toughest matches ever, especially to be played here, in the morning to me! I am glad she is back on Tour, and hopefully she is going to continue. I am so happy with this match, I will take it as a good win for me, obviously!

“It is my first time here, and everything is so perfect, so well organised. I am glad the Asian tour is back, you know. Since COVID we haven’t really had it! I am staying for three weeks and going to Malaysia and Hong Kong after this, so I am really glad to have this event for the first time, for me.

“Obviously, Amanda is top four in the world. hopefully, I can scare her off, play a great match. If I can keep continuing this focus, and this hard work, I think I can do some good damage, and hopefully, that will be good tomorrow!”

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