We’re down to the Quarter-Finals of the ‘Wimbledon of Squash’, with four matches from the top half of the draws at The Rep this evening. Meanwhile, the British Open Masters is into Day Two at Solihull & West Warks.
[1] Hania El Hammamy (Egy) 3-2 [7] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (Egy) 11-9, 11-6, 7-11, 8-11, 11-4 (65m)
[3] Amina Orfi (Egy) 3-0 [10] Amanda Sobhy (Usa) 11-9, 11-4, 11-5 (41m)
[1] Mostafa Asal (Egy) 3-0 [6] Victor Crouin (Fra) 11-8, 11-3, 11-4 (43m)
[3] Diego Elias (Per) 3-1 [7] Mohamad Zakaria (Egy) 11-9, 11-13, 11-1, 11-5 (70m)
Top seeds and World Champions through to semis
In the first match of the evening top seed Hania El Hammamy maintained her record over compatriot Fayrouz Aboelkheir, but the 20-year-old pushed the World #1 closer than in any of their previous encounters. El Hammamy wasn’t on top form but still took the opening two games before Aboelkheir struck back to force a decider. El Hammamy was always in charge in the fifth as she secured a win that takes her into a fourth British Open semi-final and ensures she will keep the £1 ranking after the tournament concludes.
In the other women’s quarter, USA’s Amanda Sobhy made a strong start against newly-crowned World Champion Amina Orfi, taking a 7-4 lead and working the always noisy crowd to her advantage. Orfi slowly worked her way back into the game though, taking it 11-9 and was in control for the next two as she made it three 3-0 wins in a row over Sobhy.
Men’s top seed Mostafa Asal made relatively short work of his encounter with French #1 Victor Crouin, while defending champion Diego Elias repeated his World Champs QF win over Mohamad Zakaria. While the World Junior Champ did take a game this time, edging the second 13-11, the result was never in doubt after that as Elias dominated the final two games.
Preview :
First up is an all-Egyptian clash between women’s top seed Hania El Hammamy and Fayrouz Aboelkheir. Both have followed up impressive junior careers with senior success although Hania’s five-year head start – she’s 25 Fayrouz is 20 – has seen her win many more senior titles and she leads the H2H 5-0.
Men’s top seed Mostafa Asal then takes on France’s Victor Crouin, who at 26 is one year older than the reigning World Champion and World #1. Asal leads the H2H 7-2 and although the Egyptian was a quick winner in their last encounter, Crouin won a 94-minute epic in their previous match.
Newly-crowned Senior – and still Junior – world champion Amina Orfi is on next, against USA’s Amanda Sobhy, who leads their H2H 3-2 courtesy of their first three meetings but Orfi has won the last two in straight games.
Last up it’s defending men’s champion Diego Elias against world junior champion Mohamad Zakaria in a repeat of last month’s World Champs quarter-final. The Peruvian has won all four of their previous encounters, dropping just one game.
Meanwhile, the British Open Masters is into Day Two as Solihull & West Warks.
