Simon Herbert and Nardine Garas both progressed to the second round of the Quilter Cheviot British Open 2026 after securing statement victories over the 2018 Champion Miguel Rodriguez and the World No.29 Rachel Arnold, in what was an exciting day at the Solihull Arden Club.
Herbert was able to kickstart his British Open campaign with a massive victory against the World No.23 Rodriguez in straight games.
Despite winning the match in three, the opener proved that it wouldn’t be made easy for the World No.59 and, with the duo sharing 28 points on-court, it was Herbert who was able to claim the tough opening game, 15-13.
From then on, the Englishman was able to control the game, with the opening 26-minute game seemingly taking its physical toll on the former World No.4, who was unable to build any momentum in the match.
With the contest progressing into the later stages, it was the World No.59 who was able to stun the former British Open Champion, winning the third 11-4.
A hometown hero, training in Birmingham regularly, Herbert shared his feelings after his first round victory.
“I’m ecstatic, it was a big relief when I had won, so, getting it over the line was important today, and it is just a massive relief.
“Beating him [Rodriguez], 3-0 is really special. I mean, he did something special years ago, so I am just glad to have got that win.”
In the women’s draw, Garas caused another upset after eliminating World No.21 Anahat Singh in four games. In the early stages of the match, Garas was able to push the India No.1 to her limit, with the 22-year-old taking the first game 11-8.
Although she lost the second 8-11, she remained unfazed and was able to bounce back to win the next two games 11-8, 11-9. The victory will see the Egyptian play No.8 seed Tinne Gilis on the glass court at the Rep in Birmingham.
Following her victory, Garas said:
“I’m so happy with the way I played today. I gave it my all and I thought it’s the last tournament of the season and I wanted to give it my all.
“I’m excited that my next match is at the Rep [theatre] as my next match is on the glass. Let’s see how it goes and I’m so excited to play.”
Joining her in the next round will also be her compatriot Adam Hawal, who progressed after stunning the World No.33 Bernat Jaume in straight games, as well as World No.24 Kenzy Ayman, who overcame an intense on-court battle against Lucy Beecroft, winning 3-2 in 56 minutes.
The Round of 64 also saw France’s Melissa Alves book her spot into the next round after beating her compatriot Lauren Baltayan, as well as siblings Curtis and Torrie Malik, who reached the last 32 following victories against Egypt’s Hana Ramadan and Karim El Hammamy, respectively.
The evening session also saw plenty of action, with USA’s Timothy Brownell progressing after a brutal 53-minute match against Moustafa Elsirty, and Hong Kong, China’s Sin Yuk Chan surviving the battle against Hollie Naughton to secure a place in the next round.
Elsewhere, Sam Todd put himself through to the last 32 after a gruelling 54-minute contest against Fares Dessouky, winning 3-1. He will be joined by Veer Chotrani, who defeated Noor Zaman 3-1 and Nadien Elhammany, who progressed after beating Mariam Metwally in straight games.
Round two of the Quilter Cheviot British Open 2026 gets underway at 12:00 (GMT+1) on Sunday, 31st May. All of the action will be available to watch live on SQUASHTV.
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Results – Men’s Round One
Curtis Malik (ENG) bt. Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 3-1: 10-12, 11-4, 11-2, 11-1 (50m)
Kareem El Torkey (EGY) bt. Adrian Waller (ENG) 3-2: 11-6, 10-12, 11-1, 4-11, 11-5 (40m)
Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt. Raphael Kandra (GER) 3-2: 4-11, 11-9, 6-11, 11-4, 11-7 (47m)
Abhay Singh (IND) bt. Matias Knudsen (COL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-4 (37m)
Simon Herbert (ENG) bt. Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 3-0: 15-13, 11-8, 11-4 (48m)
Juan Vargas (COL) bt. Mohamed Gohar (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 (43m)
Alex Lau (HKG) bt. Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-1: 11-4, 11-8, 12-14, 11-6 (35m)
Melvil Scianimanico (FRA) bt. Muhammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (36m)
Timothy Brownell (USA) bt. Moustafa Elsirty (EGY) 3-1: 9-11, 11-1, 12-10, 11-9 (53m)
Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) bt. Patrick Rooney (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (29m)
Yannick Wilhelmi (SUI) bt. David Bernet (SUI) 3-0: 11-4, 13-11, 11-8 (48m)
Sam Todd (ENG) bt. Fares Dessouky (EGY) 3-1: 11-5, 5-11, 11-9, 11-4 (54m)
Veer Chotrani (IND) bt. Noor Zaman (PAK) 3-1: 11-8, 12-14, 11-6, 11-7 (47m)
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) bt. Ramit Tandon (IND) 3-1: 12-14, 7-4 ret. (30m)
Declan James (ENG) bt. Samuel Osborne – Wylde (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 (54m)
Results – Women’s Round One
Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt. Ka Yi Lee (HKG) 3-1: 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-8 (34m)
Nardine Garas (EGY) bt. Anahat Singh (IND) 3-1: 11-8, 8-11, 11-8, 11-9 (45m)
Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt. Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 3-2: 11-5, 9-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-9 (56m)
Zeina Mickawy (EGY) bt. Farida Walid (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (34m)
Melissa Alves (FRA) bt. Lauren Baltayan (FRA) 3-1: 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (48m)
Torrie Malik (ENG) bt. Hana Ramadan (EGY)3-2: 11-4, 6-11, 11-9, 2-11, 11-4 (45m)
Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt. Alicia Mead (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (35m)
Ruqayya Salem (EGY) bt. Rachel Arnold (MAS) 3-1: 11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 11-8 (43m)
Aira Azman (MAS) bt. Grace Gear (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (25m)
Sana Ibrahim (EGY) bt. Tomato Ho (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (28m)
Nour Heikal (EGY) bt. Aifa Azman (MAS) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 (45m)
Nadien Elhammamy (EGY) bt. Mariam Metwally (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-8 (30m)
Lucy Turmel (ENG) bt. Alina Bushma (UKR) 3-0: 11-9, 11-3, 11-4 (35m)
Malak Khafagy (EGY) bt. Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 3-1: 6-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-5 (43m)
Sin Yuk Chan (HKG) bt. Hollie Naughton (CAN) 3-2: 11-9, 6-11, 11-3, 8-11, 11-9 (48m)
Hana Moataz (EGY) bt. Katie Malliff (ENG) 3-2: 12-10, 11-13, 3-11, 11-2, 11-4 (50m)
Draw – Men’s Round Two: To Be Played On May 31 (Top Half)
Primary Court: Rep Theatre (glass court)
12:45 Baptiste Masotti (FRA) v [3] Diego Elias (PER)
14:30 Juan Vargas (COL) v [9] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG)
18:15 [1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) v Alex Lau (HKG)
20:15 Curtis Malik (ENG) v [16] Eain Yow Ng (MAS)
Solihull Arden Club
12:45 [10] Youssef Soliman (EGY) v Simon Herbert (ENG)
14:30 [15] Gregoire Marche [FRA] v Adam Hawal (EGY)
17:15 Kareem El Torkey (EGY) v [6] Victor Crouin (FRA)
19:00 [7] Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) v Abhay Singh [IND)
Draw – Men’s Round Two: To Be Played On June 1 (Bottom Half)
Primary Court: Rep Theatre (Glass court)
12:45 [4]Karim Gawad [EGY] v Yannick Wilhelmi [SUI)
14:30 Melvil Scianimanico [FRA] v [8]Marwan ElShorbagy [ENG)
18:15 Sam Todd [ENG] v [2] Paul Coll [NZL)
20:15 [5] Joel Makin v Veer Chotrani [IND)
Solihull Arden Club
12:45 Timothy Brownell [USA] v [12]Leonel Cardenas [MEX)
14:30 [14]Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) v Yahya Elnawasany (EGY)
17:15 Mohamed Abouelghar [EGY] v Declan James [ENG)
19:00 Auguste Dussourd [FRA] v Aly Abou Eleinen [EGY)
Draw – Women’s Round Two: To Be Played On May 31 (Top Half)
Primary Court: Rep Theatre (glass court)
12:00 [8] Tinne Gillis [BEL] v Nardine Garas [EGY)
13:45 [1] Hania El Hammamy [EGY] v Zeina Mickawy [EGY)
17:30 Ruqayya Salem [EGY] v [3] Amina Orfi [EGY)
19:30 [14] Jasmine Hutton [ENG] v Melissa Alves [FRA)
Solihull Arden Club
12:00 Farida Mohamed [EGY] v [7] Fayrouz Aboelkheir [EGY)
13:45 Kenzy Ayman [EGY] v [16] Rowan Elaraby [EGY)
16:30 [12] Salma Hany [EGY] v Torrie Malik [ENG)
Draw – Women’s Round Two: To Be Played On June 1 (Bottom Half)
Primary Court: Rep Theatre (Glass court)
12:00 [4] Olivia Weaver [USA] v Aira Azman [MAS)
13:45 Nadien Elhammamy [EGY] v [6]Satomi Watanabe [JPN)
17:30 Hana Moataz v [2] Nour ElSherbini (Egy)
19:30 Malak Khafagy ([EGY] v [9]Georgina Kennedy [ENG)
Solihull Arden Club
12:00 Nour Heikal [EGY] v [11]Nele Gilis [BEL)
13:45 [13] Marina Stefanoni [USA] v Sana Ibrahim [EGY)
16:30 [15] Nada Abbas [EGY] v Sin Yuk Chan [HKG)
18:15 [5]Sivasangari Subramaniam [MAS] v Lucy Turmel [ENG)
