Tournament of Champions

PHOTO ALBUM

[2] Nour El Sherbini 3-0 [1] Nouran Gohar  11-9, 3-1 retired (20m)

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Semis

[1] Nouran Gohar 3-0 [4] Joelle King (NZL)  12-10, 11-9, 11-7 (50m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini 3-1 [3] Hania El Hammamy  11-13, 15-13, 11-9, 11-5 (64m)

[5] Marwan ElShorbagy 3-0 Miguel Rodriguez (COL)  11-5, 11-7, 11-8 (49m)

Nour El Sherbini

“It’s tough and tricky, always, playing Hania and as you say, it’s always a physical game against her. I’m glad I won this time,” the three-time ToC champ said.

“It was a bit hard for me to lose the first game and I was very frustrated losing it after having a huge gap and huge lead. As you said, even the third [game] I had a huge lead and then it disappeared again. I think I was doing a lot of mental talks inside the game to keep going and I think it paid off in the end.

“It means a lot, playing here is very special and being able to be in another final at the ToC… It’s huge and hopefully it goes my way.”

Quarters

[5] Marwan ElShorbagy 3-0 Victor Crouin (FRA) 11-5, 11-1, 11-4 (26m)
Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 3-1 [7] Mazen Hesham  11-6, 4-11, 11-8, 11-8 (59m)
[4] Diego Elias (PER) 3-0 [6] Tarek Momen  11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (49m)
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) 3-0 [8] Fares Dessouky  12-10, 11-3, 11-6 (50m)

[1] Nouran Gohar 3-2 [6] Nour El Tayeb    11-13, 11-2, 11-6, 6-11, 11-6 (75m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) 3-0 Jana Shiha  11-7, 11-8, 11-9 (28m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy 3-0 Georgina Kennedy (ENG)  11-6, 12-10, 11-3 (33m)
 [2] Nour El Sherbini 3-0 [5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-8, 11-3, 11-13, 11-5 (47m)

Nour El Sherbini

“It was a very tough game. Amanda was playing amazing in the third and she came back, she was 2-0 down, to come back fighting and wanted to win the game and the match.

“I was very frustrated to lose the third game but Greg [Gaultier, El Sherbini’s coach] told me to forget this game and focus on the fourth and to think point by point, and I think the start of the fourth was important and I got a big lead and that made the difference.

“I’m still playing, of course I want another title. The ToC is a special tournament for me. I play my best squash here, it was my first ever Platinum event win and it’s a lucky place for me, so hopefully I can get another one.”

Round Three

Victor Crouin (FRA) 3-0 [2] Mostafa Asal 12-10 rtd (19m)
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy 3-0 Nicolas Mueller (SUI)  11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (29m)
[7] Mazen Hesham 3-0 Moustafa El Sirty   11-8, 11-7, 11-9 (39m)
Mohamed ElSherbini v [4] Diego Elias (PER)
[6] Tarek Momen 3-0 Youssef Soliman            11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (36m)
[8] Fares Dessouky  3-0 Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT)  11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (33m)

[1] Nouran Gohar3-0 Mariam Metwally   11-3, 11-8, 12-10 (31m)
[6] Nour El Tayeb 3-0 Sabrina Sobhy (USA)  11-5, 11-7, 11-1 (25m)
Jana Shiha 3-2 [8] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)  14-12, 14-12, 8-11, 6-11, 11-9 (62m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy 3-0 Tomato Ho (HKG)  11-9, 11-3, 11-2 (27m)
Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 3-2 [7] Rowan Elaraby  8-11, 3-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-2 (52m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini 3-0 Melissa Alves (FRA) 11-2, 11-4, 11-6 (25m)

Tarek said

“I always am aware of how dangerous these guys can be. Although the match ended 3-0, every game had a crucial moment, so if I couldn’t handle my nerves, it would have gone his way. I think this is my first time to beat him in three, so I am very pleased with my performance today considering how good he is playing right now.

“Any sniff and it could have gone his way. Usually when I miss a couple of shots back-to-back, I know that I am not focussed on my gameplan, and probably too eager to attack from bad positions. I was trying to remind myself when I should be hitting my shots.”

Hania said

“I think I was a bit edgy in the first. At the beginning of the match, I was not completely focussed on the game and the gameplan I wanted to execute. At 9-5 down, [in the first] even if the game was going away, I tried to find my rhythm and to try to find a plan for the next one. That gave me a huge push and I switched mentally, and I was able to pick up that first game.

“I am not really focussed about the games, or dropping games, I am just focussed on my squash and trying to improve game by game and trying to find the performance I need to be playing.”

Nour El Sherbini

“Unfortunately, the first two points went this way [Melissa picking up an injury] and it’s hard to feel what’s happening, you want to focus on your game but you also want to make sure she’s fine and she can play but its hard and I just hope she’s fine.

“He (Gregory Gaultier) is not giving me any rest days, I play him on my rest days so it’s definetly a big plus to have him here and I’ve been with him for the past 10 days in Prague and we’re here together so hopefully the work we’ve done in the lat 10 days will pay off.”

Fares said

“I am happy to be here again, and to compete in this great venue and in front of this great crowd once again! I am so happy to close it in three. Abdulla played so well in the second game, and I knew if he took the second game, it could be very dangerous so I had to take that game.

“It means a lot, I am just back from injury so I am not really looking for a stage to make here… If I win the match it is a bonus, I am just playing it and enjoying it!”

Jana said

“I had no idea this was going to happen. I had a tournament last week. Really bad loss first round. But then I was like, ‘Honestly, I’m just going to go for it. Do whatever I do, play my best’.

“I had two matches on a traditional court, never played TOC, never had the opportunity on the glass court. I have nothing to lose. But yeah, great run until now. Played SJ last month in Hong Kong lost in five too, I was 2-1 up, so I kind of knew what I was going to do, but also a little bit different because that was on the traditional court again.

“Reaching Grand Central was my goal, honestly. I was like, I had a first round, always tough with the Egyptian, my friend Zeina, and then I played Joshna, two tricky matches, but I knew I just had nothing to lose.”

Marwan said

“Very happy to win in three. I played Nicky, I mean I lost to Nicky three times in the last 12 months, so I know how dangerous he could be, especially in that court. He loves this court.

“I remember when he beat Gawad, when he was World No.1 on that court. And he played very well against Joel Makin a couple of days ago. So, yeah, it’s always tough against Nicky, so skilful. You have to be very sharp.

“I love it. I love coming back. We all come, we all love it, coming back here and then playing at the Grand Central Terminal, one of the best venues on the PSA World Tour. It means a lot to all the players, seriously. As I said, it’s one of the best venues on tour and it means a lot.

“You know, it’s 12:45 and it’s packed you know, and the crowd is into it and it can’t get any better than this. This is how it should be everywhere.”

Nour El Tayeb said

“I think I played very well. I was, I knew I was up against a dangerous opponent. Sabrina is one of my my closest friends and one of my favourite people on tour,” El Tayeb said.

“I was very aware of her strengths and how well she’s been playing recently, and definitely I think I played very well and I’m very happy about that.

“Well, to be very honest, I’m just very happy to be through to the next round. I think about the next match. When I get to the next match, I still have over 48 hours before. So I don’t care about that now. I think I’m very happy to be in the quarterfinals. It was my goal coming in here to make it to the quarterfinals.”

Round Two

[2] Mostafa Asal 3-1 Patrick Rooney (ENG)  11-6, 8-11, 11-4, 11-3 (49m)
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy 3-0 [9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA)  11-6, 17-15, 11-8 (52m)
[7] Mazen Hesham 3-2 [9/16] Saurav Ghosal (IND)  12-14, 11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9 (56m)
Moustafa El Sirty 3-2 Eain Yow Ng (MAS)  3-11, 9-11, 13-11, 11-9, 11-6 (70m)
Mohamed Elsherbini 3-2 Ramit Tandon (IND)  8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3, 12-10 (73m)
[9/16] Youssef Soliman 3-2 [9/16] Youssef Ibrahim 11-7, 7-11, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7 (89m)
[6] Tarek Momen 3-0 Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP)  11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (33m)
[8] Fares Dessouky 3-0 Omar Mosaad 11-8, 11-8, 11-1 (40m)
Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) 3-0 Mohamed Abouelghar   11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (37m)

[1] Nouran Gohar 3-1 [9/16] Olivia Fiechter (USA)  11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8 (64m)
Mariam Metwally 3-2 Sana Ibrahim 10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8 (67m)
[9/16] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 3-1 Nour Aboulmakarim    8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7 (38m)
[6] Nour El Tayeb 3-0 Yathreb Adel    11-4, 11-3, 11-4 (19m)
[8] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 3-2 Salma Hany  7-11, 14-12, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3 (54m)
Jana Shiha 3-1 Joshna Chinappa (IND)   6-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 (37m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy 3-0 Hana Ramadan  11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (30m)
[7] Rowan Elaraby 3-0 Alexandra Fuller (RSA)  11-2, 11-5, 11-4 (21m)
Mélissa Alves (FRA) 3-2 Hana Moataz  4-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-3, 13-11 (60m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini 3-0 Nadine Shahin    11-5, 11-5, 11-2 (19m)

Quick report

CIB Nouran Gohar got her title defence underway by defeating home favourite Olivia Fiechter, while Nour El Tayeb showed her class in a 19-minute victory over compatriot Yathreb Adel.

At the Harvard Club of New York, England’s Sarah-Jane Perry fought her way through to the third round, with a battling display against CIB Salma Hany. Salma was even up 2-1, but SJ came back to win in five as she often does… There was also a very close five-game victory for Mariam Metwally against young Sana Ibrahim CIB, with Jana Shihahad knocking out India Joshna Chinappa, winning in four games.

New World No.1 Mostafa Asal got the better of England’s Patrick Rooney while World No.8 CIB Mazen Hesham came through a tricky test in his second round match at the Nicol Squash Club. He defeated Indian No.1 Saurav Ghosal in a five-game contest which lasted more than 80 minutes.

CIB Marwan ElShorbagy rounded off the afternoon session with a hard fought win over France’s Gregoire Marche. The ‘Jackel’ and The ‘Acrobat’ met just last week at the Houston Open, with the Egyptian coming through in four games.

ElShorbagy only needed three games to progress in today’s match as he found all four corners with great accuracy throughout the match and made life extremely difficult for the Frenchman. After closing out a crucial second game 17-15, the momentum was well and truly with the Egyptian as he took the third 11-8 to reach round three.

The final venue of the evening’s action, the River Club of New York, saw two men’s matches. CIB Moustafa El Sirty downed Malaysian No.1 Eain Yow Ng.

Round One

[17/32] Moustafa El Sirty 3-1 Yahya Elnawasany     11-4, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9 (43m)
Eain Yow Ng (MAS) 3-1 Aly Abou Eleinen  5-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-3 (46m)
[17/32] Mohamed ElSherbini 3-1 Lucas Serme (FRA) 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7 (38m)
[17/32] Omar Mosaad 3-2 Adrian Waller (ENG)  12-10, 3-11, 14-12, 6-11, 12-10 (63m)
[17/32] Mohamed Abouelghar 3-0 Karim El Hammamy    11-8, 11-4, 11-6 (36m)

[17/32] Mariam Metwally 3-1 Millie Tomlinson (ENG)  11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 13-11 (49m)
[17/32] Sana Ibrahim 3-0 Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG)  11-9, 11-8, 11-9 (33m)
[17/32] Nour Aboulmakarim 3-0 Ka Yi Lee (HKG)  11-7, 11-4, 12-10 (27m)
[17/32] Yathreb Adel 3-1 Fayrouz Aboelkheir    7-11, 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 (29m)
Jana Shiha  3-0 Zeina Mickawy  16-14, 11-8, 11-3 (33m)
[17/32] Hana Ramadan 3-1 Lucy Beecroft (ENG)  11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9 (40m)
Hana Moataz 3-2 [17/32] Lucy Turmel (ENG)  8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4 (58m)
Nadine Shahin 3-0 [WC] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (17m)

Harvard graduate Hana Moataz will make her debut in the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions second round after pulling off a five-game comeback against higher-ranked opponent at the Harvard Club.

In May, the College Squash Association recognized Harvard’s Hana Moataz with the Betty Richey Award for her exemplary play and sportsmanship throughout her college career on the glass court in Grand Central. The Egyptian is one step closer to playing on the same court following just her second career Platinum victory—a gritty 8-11, 11-13, 11-8, 11-7, 11-4 comeback against England’s world No. 31 Lucy Turmel, as she is playing her second round match against French Melissa Alves at the Harvard Club.

“I think she had a really good start. I kind of had a slow start,” Moataz said.

“I played way better towards the end. I think I was just really stressed in the beginning so I was just trying to enjoy it a bit more and play some proper squash towards the end. I think I’m more aggressive towards the middle. I like to volley and attack more, I feel like I was very passive in the beginning and she kept boasting a lot and I didn’t get any of it, but I think I was playing much better towards the end.

“I’m happy I was able to get it together and I think I’m just going to take it match by match.”

World No. 30 Mohamed Elsherbini will face comeback marvel Indian Ramit Tandon – down 2/0 against Raphael Kandra – Friday at the Nicol Club for a chance to reach the glass court in Grand Central.

ToC debutante Jana Shiha defeated higher-ranked Zeina Mickawy.

Thursday will field the first half of the second round with the tournament’s top seeds making their first appearances, and glass court play in Vanderbilt Hall commencing at 12pm noon