The GillenMarkets British Open continued today with eight Round Three matches from the bottom half of the draws as the quarter-final lineups are finalised.
There was an emotional sendoff for local SJ Perry as she came up against Nour ElSherbini in her final professional match, wins for second seeds Sherbini and Diego Elias, and a home double as Mohamed and Marwan ElShorbagy both advanced to the quarter-finals.
Check out the match reports, reaction and photos below the results …
MATCH REPORTS : Sobhy loving Hot Pink court | Elias wins Pan American derby |
Sherbini too strong as Perry ends Pro career | ElShorbagy downs apprentice Zakaria |
Weaver too strong for Aboelkheir | Coll takes out local favourite Elsirty |
Nele reaches first BO QF since 2019 | Marwan downs Soliman to complete QF lineups
Women’s Round Three :
[3] Olivia Weaver (Usa) 3-0 [9/16] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (Egy) 1 4-12, 11-9, 11-4 (37m)
[9/16] Nele Gilis-Coll (Bel) 3-1 [9/16] Sana Ibrahim (Egy) 12-10, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9 (61m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (Egy) 3-1 Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) 10-12, 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 (36m)
Men’s Round Three :
[3] Paul Coll (Nzl) 3-0 [Q] Mostafa Elsirty (Egy) 11-4, 12-10, 11-3 (38m)
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (Eng) 3-1 [9/16] Youssef Soliman (Egy) 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6 (52m)
[2] Diego Elias (Per) 3-0 Juan Camilo Vargas (Col) 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (27m)
Sobhy loving ‘hot pink’ Rep court as American reaches quarter-finals
[8] Amanda Sobhy (Usa) 3-0 Hana Moataz (Egy) 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 (27m)
In the opening match of the day, USA’s Amanda Sobhy reached her fourth consecutive GillenMarkets British Open quarter-final after getting the better of Egypt’s Hana Moataz at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Both players were playing their first match on ‘The Rep’s’ stunning all-glass court having played their earlier matches on the traditional courts at Solihull Arden Club. Sobhy breezed past Egypt’s Malak Khafagy in round two after receiving a round one bye, while Moataz edged past compatriot Nour Aboulmakarim 3-2 in round one and then incredibly saved six match balls in a five-game win against Wales’ Tesni Murphy in round two.
Neither player looked particularly comfortable early on as they adjusted to the glass, but it was Sobhy who managed to move ahead. The 31-year-old, who is aiming to regain her highest world ranking of World No.3 after a long injury layoff, took the opening game 11-6 then doubled the lead with an 11-8 win in game two. She maintained the momentum to close out the match 11-5 in 27 minutes.
“It’s hard not to feel good when you’re playing inside a hot pink show court inside a packed theatre! What’s not to love!?
“We both went to Harvard so I saw her do really well in college squash. She’s beaten two really good players in five and you can’t underestimate anybody nowadays. The depth is so good.
“We’re at the tail end of ‘the comeback season’ and it’s been so much fun. When I ruptured my achilles in December 2023 a lot of people weren’t expecting me to come back. But here I am!
“It makes you appreciate everything a lot more when it’s taken away from you.”
Elias wins Pan American derby against Vargas
[2] Diego Elias (Per) 3-0 Juan Camilo Vargas (Col) 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (27m)
In a one-sided matchup, Peruvian World No.2 Diego Elias quickly defeated Colombian World No.36 Juan Vargas.
The pair had never met on the PSA Squash Tour, with the duo due to meet during February’s Motor City Open, only for Vargas to be awarded a walkover win due to an injury to Elias. They’ve met several times when representing their countries, though, with Elias winning all four of their meetings, the most recent of which was a 3-0 win in the Pan American Team Championships in August last year.
Today’s match followed a similar pattern, with Elias clearly a level above his opponent on the day. The Peruvian, who made an indifferent start to his second-round match against Gregoire Marche before eventually settling to win 3-1, moved Vargas from corner to corner throughout as he recorded an 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 win to move into the last eight.
“I think I felt a bit better than the other day. I’m happy to see Juan making some moves and getting some big wins. Him getting into the last 16 of the British Open is very big for South America.
“Squash is growing in South America, which is good to see, and hopefully we can have more players in the future.
“It’s really sad to see Ali leave, he’s the toughest player I’ve ever played for sure. It’s really sad. I told him he made me improve a lot of things in my game because clearly my game wasn’t good enough to beat him.”
El Sherbini too strong as Perry ends professional career
[2] Nour El Sherbini (Egy) 3-1 Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) 10-12, 11-3, 11-6, 11-3 (36m)
Local hero Sarah-Jane Perry ended her professional squash career with an entertaining battle as the former World No.5 lost out to World Champion Nour El Sherbini in her last match on the PSA Squash Tour.
Kenilworth born Perry was playing in her 13th and final British Open having announced that she would be retiring after the event.
The Englishwoman made a perfect, crowd-pleasing start the match in front of her home fans. In a typical display of grit and brilliantly deceptive shotmaking, the 35-year-old saved two game balls in the opener before clinching the tie-break 12-10 to take a shock lead.
The eight-time world champion dampened the crowd’s expectations quickly in game two, though, racing into an 8-1 lead en route to a four-minute 11-3 win to level. The Egyptian continued to dominate in game three, starving the Englishwoman of attacking opportunities as she moved into the lead with an 11-6 win.
Perry, a British Open finalist in 2017, threw everything at ‘the Warrior Princess’ in the fourth game in a desperate bid to force a fifth.
El Sherbini, though, was able to stifle Perry’s resistance, hitting her targets immaculately to take the fourth game 11-3 and reach the last eight, where she will face eighth seed Amanda Sobhy.
Sherbini said: “I was a bit nervous playing her in what might be her last match on tour. We know how amazing and skilful she is, and playing in front of her home crowd. I’m really proud to have been the last one to play her on tour and I’m glad it’s a good one for the crowd to have watched.
“She’s given a lot of top players a very hard time. She’s such a strong person and fighter and an amazing person too!
“I wish her all the best in her next chapter. We’ll definitely see her again and good luck to her.”
ElShorbagy downs apprentice Zakaria=
[5] Mohamed ElShorbagy (Eng) 3-0 [9/16] Mohamed Zakaria (Egy) 11-5, 13-11, 11-6 (53m)
In a battle between a former World No.1 and a player some have described as a potential future World No.1, 34-year-old Mohamed ElShorbagy proved too strong for 17-year-old Mohamad Zakaria.
Ahead of the match, ElShorbagy described fellow Alexandrian Zakaria as a “future superstar” of the sport, with the fifth seed adding that he’d be watching Zakaria on TV a long time after he retired.
When the pair met three weeks ago at the PSA World Championships, consensus amongst the watching fans in Chicago was that ElShorbagy had taught the junior world champion a squash lesson, with ‘the Beast’ taking out Zakaria in straight games. Today, ElShorbagy proved that was no fluke, with the Englishman showing his class in another straight games win.
This match, though, was initially a hard-fought battle before Zakaria tired late on. ElShorbagy looked strong in the early stages, asserting himself on court well to take the opener 11-5.
World Junior Champion Zakaria changed his tactics in the second game, getting himself in front of the three-time British Open champion and drawing ElShorbagy into long and physical rallies.
This proved effective, with Zakaria earning game ball at 10-9 as he looked to level. ElShorbagy hit back to force a tie break, only for Zakaria to lead again at 11-10. To the younger player’s frustration, though, ElShorbagy hung on again, forcing himself level once more before taking a mammoth 31-minute second game 13-11.
The efforts of the match, and the demoralising nature of the second game defeat, seemed to sap the fight from Zakaria, with ElShorbagy closing out 10-6 to set up a quarter-final against Diego Elias.
“It feels really good to make the quarter in this amazing venue here in England as well. So yeah, I’m really happy to get to play on this court another time.
And I’m going to enjoy my rest day tomorrow and look forward to play against Diego [Elias] who is probably my best friend on tour!”
Weaver too strong for Aboelkheir
[3] Olivia Weaver (Usa) 3-0 [9/16] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (Egy) 14-12, 11-9, 11-4 (37m)
In the first match of the evening session, USA’s World No.4 Olivia Weaver reached the quarter-finals for the third time after a 3-0 win against Egypt’s 19-year-old World No.14 Fayrouz Aboelkheir.
The opening game was a tight affair in which both players battled for mid-court control. Weaver, 29, was the first to make a move, going three game balls up at 10-7. Aboelkheir defended well to save all three, then earned a game ball of her own at 11-10.
This time, it was Weaver’s turn to hang on, with the American hitting back to eventually take the opener 14-12.
Game two was another close one. Weaver had the better of the opening rallies, before Aboelkheir upped the aggression, attacking the front well. Weaver, though, managed to survive the onslaught, making almost no mistakes as she doubled her lead 11-9.
Game three was a simpler affair for Weaver, with the US No.1 looking relaxed as she wrapped up the match with an 11-4 win.
“I’m very happy to get through that against a player like Fayrouz.
Those first two games were very tight and there were some real pivotal moments and I’m happy I was able to use my experience to get through them.
“This is one of the most iconic venues, and most prestigious events on our calendar. Playing on this stage in front of this crowd is very special.”
Former champ Coll takes out local favourite Elsirty
[3] Paul Coll (Nzl) 3-0 [Q] Mostafa Elsirty (Egy) 11-4, 12-10, 11-3 (38m)
Two-time British Open champion Paul Coll is through to the quarter-final after defeating Egyptian University of Birmingham’s Moustafa Elsirty 3-0.
Elsirty has had a tournament to remember in his adopted hometown, with the World No.67 coming through the qualifiers to reach the main draw, making this his sixth match of the tournament.
World No.3 Coll, looking to capture the title for the first time since 2022, dominated the first game, with his accurate play coming out on top of Elsirty’s power-based approach to win 11-4.
Elsirty was more patient in game two, alternating between power and soft touches as he kept pace with Coll.
The Kiwi, though, had just enough in the tank to clinch a 2-0 lead, with the 33-year-old scrambling well to come through a tie-break 12-10.
Game three was a far more simple affair, with Coll in complete control as the World No.3 cruised through with an 11-3 win.
“He’s a talented player with the racket. I’ve trained with him a few times so I knew the danger.
He’s come through qualifying which is very impressive, to make it through to Round of 16.
Congratulations to him on a great tournament.”
Gilis-Coll reaches British Open Quarters for first time since 2019
[9/16] Nele Gilis-Coll (Bel) 3-1 [9/16] Sana Ibrahim (Egy) 12-10, 11-4, 6-11, 11-9 (61m)
Nele Gilis-Coll booked her place in the quarter finals of the British Open for the first time in six years after defeating Sana Ibrahim in four games. Gilis-Coll last reached the last eight of this event back in 2019, losing out to Camille Serme who finished runner-up at that tournament.
The Belgian backed up her impressive round two victory over England No.1 Georgina Kennedy earlier this week to secure a quarter-final berth in Birmingham. Gilis-Coll was beaten by Ibrahim at the start of the season at the first-ever Diamond-level event, where the Egyptian had a tournament to remember by reaching the quarter finals.
World No.13 Gilis-Coll was finding her targets well in the opening two games, while errors proved costly for Ibrahim as the Belgian had a comfortable-looking 2-0 lead following 12-10 and 11-4 wins.
Gilis-Coll looked on course to wrapping the match in straight games when she stormed into a 5-1 lead in the third, only for Ibrahim to mount a fantastic comeback to get a foothold back in the contest by taking the game 11-6.
A new ball requested by Gilis-Coll at the end of the third look to have paid dividends as she found the back corners well, but Ibrahim’s fighting spirit didn’t relent to the very end of the fourth. However it was the Belgian who prevailed, edging it 11-9 for a quarter-final spot.
“I think I started most games well and built up some good leads.
“These Egyptians are so fearless – as soon as you relax for one per cent you can lose a few points very quickly. You get a bit of tension in your arm and every shot gets harder!
“I’m very glad I got away with it in four because she beat me at the start of the season and I didn’t want that to happen so I’m very happy.”
Marwan overcomes Soliman to complete QF lineups
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (Eng) 3-1 [9/16] Youssef Soliman (Egy) 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6 (52m)
In the last match of the day, Marwan ElShorbagy secured his quarter finals spot after dispatching Youssef Soliman 3-1, avenging his recent defeat to Soliman at the World Championships.
Despite Soliman making a strong start to the opener, it was ElShorbagy who played the big points the better at the business end, pressing on from 7-7 to draw first blood. ElShorbagy, who’s never gone beyond the quarter finals at the British Open, was looking very solid in the second as he opened up a 7-0 advantage. The World No.5 pressed on to go two games up 11-4.
Soliman needed to roll the dice in a crucial third game for the Egyptian, and the World No.9 got his rewards as he dug deep to pull one game back. But ElShorbagy regathered the momentum that he had in the first two games to diffuse a comeback from Soliman and push on to the last eight.
“Very happy. Youssef beat me three weeks ago at the World Champs and even before that I knew he was having a great season – he’s been more solid than previous seasons,” he said.
“He’s in the top 10 now and he deserves to be, he’s going to stay there and make that jump hopefully next season to the top eight and top five.
“I’m happy for him to see him more solid and I knew how dangerous he is and he beat me three weeks ago so I had to have the right tactics and change a couple of things I did wrong in Chicago. I’m glad they worked today.”
