U.S. Open RD1: Player Reaction – Glass court west & Court 15

The 2022 U.S. Open begins today at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center with 10 local players hoping to progress to the last 32.

We’ll have reports and reaction from those in action on Glass Court East and Court 7 right here, while you can watch all the action live on SQUASHTV.

You can also stay up-to-date with all the action by visiting our live scoring page.

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Order of Play

(All times are local GMT-4)

Court 7: Order of play

12:30 – Borja Golan (ESP) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)

13:15 – Rachel Arnold (MAS) v Grace Gear (ENG)

14:00 – Baptiste Masotti (FRA) v Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK)

14:45 – Nicole Bunyan (CAN) v Hana Ramadan (EGY)

17:00 – Tayyab Aslam (PAK) v George Parker (ENG)

17:45 – Julianne Courtice (ENG) v Aifa Azman (MAS)

18:30 – Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) v Bernat Jaume (ESP)

19:15 – Zeina Mickawy (EGY) v Ineta Mackevica (LAT)

Salazar Overcomes Golan In Hour Long Battle On Court 15

Mexico’s Cesar Salazar overcame good friend and fierce competitor Borja Golan to advance to the US Open second round. The rallies were long and intense throughout the encounter with both players playing at a fast pace and looking to push the others movement into both the front and back corners.

With the score level at 1-1 in games, the Mexican No.2 sealed a crucial third game 12-10 by picking off Golan around the middle and using his volley drop and kill to keep the pace high. Salazar then maintained the pressure to take the fourth game 11-9 and seal the victory in 61 minutes. He had this to say after his win:

“I think it was a top match with Borja, he is a very good friend. We have a good relationship off the court so I knew we could have a good match. Borja is a top player in my opinion and I think when he’s on form he can beat a top 20 player so I respect him a lot. The first game was very important to gain confidence so I’m glad I did that.

“When I had a chance to put pressure on with the volleys, I had to take it. I needed to be aggressive and today that was the key. If you give him the chance to hit his boats and move the ball around it’s dangerous. I had some mistakes at the start of the games but I tried to be patient and be intelligent but overall I think I did a good job.”

On glass court west, Malaysian No.1 Eain Yow Ng booked his place in round two, beating Scotland’s Alan Clyne in a hard fought three games. Yow took the opening two games comfortable 11-4, 11-5 but the resilience of Clyne forced the Malaysian to dig deep and maintain his concentration to close out the third game 11-8 and win in 48 minutes.

“It was tough” said Yow.

“I really didn’t want to go to a fourth game but he was coming back at me but I managed to push hard again to win in 3. Up against Ali [Farag] tomorrow, I’ve had a lot of experience recently of playing the top players and I’m feeling good so it will be interesting tomorrow.”

Results:

Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 3-1: 11-9, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9 (61m)

Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt Alan Clyne (SCO) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-8 (48m)

Egypt’s Shiha Scores Victory Over Ho To Advance

Jana Shiha overcame Hong Kong’s Tomato Ho to progress through to the US Open second round on glass court west at the Arlen Specter Squash Centre.

The young Egyptian is ranked 24 places lower than her opponent but managed to showcase her confident finishing abilities to trouble Ho in the front two corners after losing the opening game 13-11. Shiha stormed up the court and took time away from Ho forcing errors to win the next three games and book her place in the second round.

Meanwhile, on court 15, Malaysia’s Rachel Arnold wasted in no time in despatching England’s Grace Gear to move into the last 32. She dominating proceedings from the start and only needed just 23 minutes to advance.

Results:

Jana Shiha (EGY) bt Tomato Ho (HKG) 3-1: 11-13, 11-4, 11-8, 11-4 (39m)

Rachel Arnold (MAS) bt Grace Gear (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-3 (23m)

El Sirty Battles Past Dussourd To Make Last 32

Egypt’s Moustafa El Sirty managed to overcome France’s in form Auguste Dussourd in a competitive match to reach the second round of the US Open.

The powerful Egyptian got off to the perfect start in the first game and hit aggressive lines to the back of the court to dominate the middle and pin Dussourd in the back corners allowing him no time or space to attack.

Despite Dussourd taking the second game 13-11, El Sirty regained control by keeping the ball tight and forcing errors from Dussourd to take the following two games 11-4, 11-6 to move into the second round.

France’s Baptiste Masotti was in fine form over on court 15 as he beat Pakistan’s Muhammad Asim Khan in just 25 minutes to advance. The Frenchman’s mix of power and precision proved too much for the Pakistani who had no answer for Masotti’s attacks.

Results:

Moustafa El Sirty (EGY) bt Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 3-1: 11-7, 11-13, 11-4, 11-6 (55m)

Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt Muhammad Asim Khan (PAK) 3-0: 11-4, 11-4, 11-4 (25m)

Ramadan & Alves Through In Three

Egypt’s Hana Ramadan & France’s Melissa Alves have comfortably booked their place in the US Open second round after beating Nicole Bunyan & Emilia Soini in straight games.

Ramadan, who was on court 15, used her pace and power to continually disrupt the rhythm that Bunyan was trying to get herself into. The Canadian tried her best to contain Ramadan’s attacking threat but wasn’t able to string successive rallies together well enough.

Closing out the afternoon session, France’s Melissa Alves found top form to beat Emilia Soini in just 21 minutes. Alves reacted better to the glass court conditions and found her length the better of the two and utilised that to full effect to move into the next round.

Result:

 Melissa Alves (FRA) bt Emilia Soini (FIN) 3-0: 11-3, 11-4, 11-1 (21m)

Hana Ramadan (EGY) bt Nicole Bunyan (CAN) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 (27m)

England’s Rooney and Parker Progress In Contrasting Styles

England’s Patrick Rooney and George Parker have moved into the US Open second round after winning in contrasting styles in Philadelphia.

Parker overcame Pakistan’s Tayyab Aslam after the Pakistani player suffered an injury and had to retire at 5-1 in the first game. Parker will now play Egypt’s Moustafa El Sirty in round two.

Rooney was up against USA’s Faraz Khan who had beaten Rooney in the only encounter between the two. The Englishman started to move Khan around the court from the start of the match and used good touch at the front to test Khan’s movement.

Khan equalised in the second game but Rooney didn’t panic and showed good composure to stick to his game plan. He used his hold to show one shot and play another, disrupting the quick movement of Khan and get a hold on the match. Rooney eventually closed the game out 12-10 to book his place in the next round.

Rooney had this to say about his match and his upcoming encounter with Marwan ElShorbagy:

“I wasn’t thinking good things really, having a 100% loss record against him in Philadelphia. But I really wanted to get revenge today, I was motivated and moving well and despite a little blip in the scene game, I’m happy I could get it done in four games.

“I thought I would have to move him around a lot, but he’s a really good mover and I did make some errors because of his pick-ups but I had to reset and choose the right opportunities to take it in to change his rhythm and hold a little. But I felt I was in control for a lot of the match.

“I think I can beat Marwan tomorrow. I watched a film called Ip man last night, and they go on about Wing Chun which is the art of using defence and attack at the same time so I think I’m going to use that tomorrow and try and push him from front to back and really bring that Wing Chun into the game.”

Results:

Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Faraz Khan (USA) 3-1: 11-8, 3-11, 11-5, 12-10 (60m)

George Parker (ENG) bt Tayyab Aslam (PAK) 3-0: 5-1 retired.

Courtice Shocks Azman To Move Into RD2

England’s Julianne Courtice scored a big upset over World No.24 Aifa Azman from Malaysia to book her place in the next round.

The rallies were short and sharp between the two with Azman starting the better of the two and working the ball short was seeming to be the tactic to use against Courtice. After losing the first game, Courtice rallied back to take control of the middle and start to implement her own attacking style of play.

Azman regained the lead at 2-1 in games and ran out to a 7-1 lead in the fourth game, looking sure to move into the next round. Courtice had other ideas however and used the frustration from a refereeing decision to fuel her comeback and win the fourth and fifth games to move into round two.

“I think I’ve had a few close ones over the last few tournaments and ive been pressing and pressing but not getting the results but to get over the line in this one just feels like all the work that I’ve put in and all the build up has been rewarded.

“My ranking has been improving but I feel like I needed a good scalp and I’m just so pleased I got that today. I think I was 7-1 down in the fourth and I wasn’t happy with a refereeing decision which I struggled to shake off but I managed to just let my arm go and play the squash I wanted to.”

Over on Glass court west, USA celebrated a home winner as Olivia Clyne secured a confident win over Hong Kong’s Ka Yi Lee.

Clyne took a tight opening game 15-13 before doubling her lead and looking in strong form. Lee fought back but despite clawing a game back couldn’t mount any more pressure on the Hong Kong player and Clyne moved into the next round, winning 3-1.

Results:

Julianne Courtice (ENG) bt Aifa Azman (MAS) 3-2: 3-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6 (51m)

Olivia Clyne (USA) bt Ka Yi Lee (HKG) 3-1: 15-13, 11-5, 6-11, 11-5 (36m)

Swiss No.2 Steinmann Overcomes Home Favourite Khan

World No.40 Dimitri Steinmann overcame USA No.1 Shahjahan Khan in a tight three games to score an upset and book his slot in round two.

‘The Jet’ maintained a disciplined approach throughout the match and pinned Khan deep in the back corners and used his speed to attack when Khan took the ball short. Steinmann kept the ball straight and tight for the majority of the match and carefully chose his opportunities to attack.

After taking the opening two games, Khan’s pressure was starting to pay off and Steinmann’s discipline was fading. The Swiss managed to hold on however and took the crucial third game 11-9 to move into the third game where he will face Peru’s Diego Elias in round two.

“I felt good out there today, more relaxed than usual. Having Rob[Owen] here helps to keep me in check and play more disciplined. I tend to get carried away, if I win one game I think I can then take it into all four corners and lose my discipline but I get told off if I do that and Rob’s around.”

France’s Sebastien Bonmalais was full of confidence coming into his match with Bernat Jaume today after just losing out in the final last week at the Cleveland Skating Club Open 2022 to Eain Yow Ng. He dominated proceedings on court 15 and after securing a close first game 15-13, had too much for the Spaniard and comfortably took the next two games.

Results:

Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bt Shahjahan Khan (USA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-9 (50m)

Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt Bernat Jaume (ESP) 3-0: 15-13, 11-4, 11-6 (38m)

Mickawy & Chan Close Out Day 1 With Confident Victories

Egypt’s Zeina Mickawy closed out play on court 15 with a convincing 25 minute win over Latvia’s Ineta Mackevica to move into round two.

The Egyptian’s hard hitting, aggressive style of play caused Mackevica trouble from the outset. The Latvian No.1 struggled to keep up with the pace that Mickawy was setting, trying her best to lift her way out of pressure situations, which Mickawy was all over.

Mickawy established a strong 2-0 lead and despite a competitive third game from Mackevica, the Egyptian closed out the game 11-9 to win in straight games.

In form Hong Kong player Chan Sin Yuk closed out play on the Glass Court West with a confident win against event Wildcard Marina Stefanoni.

Chan reached the biggest quarter final of her career last week as she reached the last eight of the Oracle NetSuite Open. She took this confidence into her match and moved the ball around the court with great precision to test the movement of the young American. Stefanoni had no answer for the accurate play of Chan and fell in straight games.

Result:

Zeina Mickawy (EGY) beats Ineta Mackevica (LAT) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (25m)

Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) beats Marina Stefanoni (USA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 (24m)