Malaysian Open Squash Championships 2022: Day One – Player Reaction, Glass Court

The Malaysian Open Squash Championships 2022 kick off today, with 16 matches coming up in the first round of the tournament.

We’ll be bringing you the player reaction from the glass court right here. You can follow player reaction from courts two and four here.

There are seven Malaysians in action on the glass court today, with Mohammad Syafiq Kamal beginning the action at 13:00 (GMT+8) against Egypt’s Yahya Elnawasany.

You can watch action from the glass court on SQUASHTV. Keep up to date with the live scores here. Play starts across all three courts at 13:00 (GMT+8).

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Order Of Play, Malaysian Open Squash Championships (glass court)

Elnawasany too strong for Kamal

Yahya Elnawasany got the day’s action underway with a routine win over Malaysia’s Mohammad Syafiq Kamal.

Despite the largely close scorelines in each game, the Egyptian was in control throughout.

After 11-9, 11-8 wins in the first two games, Elnawasany set up a round two match with top seed and Egyptian compatriot Tarek Momen with an 11-7 win in the third game.

Afterwards, Elnawasany said: “I feel I dealt with the conditions vey well. There’s a big time difference between here and Egypt and I’m happy with how I managed it on court and to get the 3-0 win.

“Tomorrow’s a big match for me against Tarek. We’ve played already this season and I lost 3-0. Hopefully I can do better next time!”

Result: Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) bt Mohammad Syafiq Kamal (MAS) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (38m)

Aboelkheir safely through after holding off comeback

In the second match of the day, Fayrouz Aboelkheir beat Egyptian compatriot Sana Ibrahim 3-0.

Aboelkheir appeared to be in full control when when took the first two games 11-3 apiece, but was then forced to dig in in the third, which was delayed due to an injury to Ibrahim following.

After saving three game balls, Aboelkheir regained her rhythm to proceed to the next round with a tight 13-11 win.

Aboelkheir said afterwards: “I’m happy today with the way I played. Yesterday [during practice], the court didn’t feel my way, I didn’t like it to be honest. But I’m happy I managed to play well on it today and I want to apologise to Sana for the hit, I didn’t mean it at all. Hopefully she’ll be ok for Hong Kong.

“The injuries and the breaks mean you can go off mentally. I tried to manage my mentality but it didn’t go my way and my brain wasn’t working at all!”

Result
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt Sana Ibrahim (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-3, 13-11 (36m)

Ng overpowers Romiglio

Malaysia’s home favourite Eain Yow Ng proved too strong for Argentina’s Leandro Romiglio as the 24-year-old recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Ng opened up a 2-0 lead with 11-7, 11-5 wins in games one and two, before getting over the line with an 11-8 victory in the third.

“I think Singapore [where he beat World No.2 Paul Coll] as an event is now done and dusted. It’s good to know that I’m confident going into it, but I really need to stay focused, especially against someone like Leandro who’s so fast and competitive. It was tough today, I had to hang in there. I’m so happy to get through in three today.”

Result
Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 (40m)

Gear gets better of Gomez

England’s Grace Gear looked in confident form as she overcame Spain’s Cristina Gomez in a one-sided affair in the last glass court match of the afternoon session.

Gomez’s best moments came in the first game as she tested the Englishwoman. After Gear had eventually taken the first game 11-8, the Spaniard’s resistance appeared broken, with Gear taking the next two games 11-4, 11-5 to take the match in just 21 minutes.

“I’m very happy with that. Cristina’s a tricky opponent, so to get off in three is something I’m really happy about. It’s my first time playing on a glass court in front of SQUASHTV, so I’m happy to get my first win!” Gear said.

On her next opponent, Malaysia’s Rachel Arnold, she said: “I’ll recover from this match and go through a gameplan with my coach and hopefully it will be a good match to watch!”

Result

Grace Gear (ENG) bt Cristina Gomez (ESP) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (21m)

Home Delight As Idrakie Stuns Mosaad To Reach RD2

Malaysia’s Adeen Idrakie has produced the second big Malaysian upset of day one at the Malaysian Open 2022 as he overcame former World No.3 Omar Mosaad in four games to reach the second round for the first time.

Idrakie showed no fear as he took on the ‘Hammer of Thor’ Mosaad in the opening game and took the pace to the experienced Egyptian from the start. Idrakie used his light frame to move around Mosaad and pick him off at the front of the court. The Malaysian took the opening game 14-12 before backing that up with a comfortable 11-5 win in the second to lead by two games.

Mosaad responded in the third game as he stayed solid in his hitting and partnered with Idrakie errors, took the third game 13-11 to give himself a lifeline in the match. The World No.83 returned to his quality hitting however and managed to set himself up with a 9-5 lead in the fourth and only two points away from the biggest win of his career. Idrakie went on to convert 11-7 and move into round two.

“I think the first two, I played really well and stuck to my game plan, I know I’m fitter and stronger, I trained hard for this and I think I did really well,”said Idrakie.

“He is very strong in the middle, I had to get it past him every time, my plan was to either lift or hit the side walls so I think the plan worked today.

“I think I give my best performances in Malaysia, this is my first time through to the second round in the Malaysian Open and I’m just hoping I can play even better in the next round.”

Result:

Adeen Idrakie (MAS) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-1: 14-12, 11-5, 11-13, 11-7 (64m)

Chan Yiwen Wins All-Malaysian Battle

In the first all-Malaysian battle of the day, World No.86 Chan Yiwen defeated former World No.5 Low Wee Wern in straight games to advance to round two in Kuala Lumpur.

The 22-year-old started in great style, moving the ball around the court well and testing the movement of her opponent, who has been struggling with injury over recent years. Yiwen found success in the front corners and using a hold in her swing to stop the momentum of Wee Wern, who seemed to be struggling to move at her best.

After taking the first game 11-4, Yiwen doubled her lead in game two, taking it 11-9 by again working the ball into the front corners and capitalising on the loose retrievals from Wee Wern. The former World No.5 did her best to stay in the rallies and impose her own pressure and at time did so, but the pressure couldn’t be sustained throughout any period of the match. Yiwen took the match 3-0 in just 28 minutes to advance.

“I had to use my youth to play against her, I hope she is okay, it’s great to make it to the second round of the Malaysian Open.

“I think I have good momentum, and I’ll just keep going with what I’m doing.” said Yiwen after her win.

Result:

Chan Yiwen (MAS) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS) 3-0: 11-4, 11-9, 11-4 (28m)

Tandon In Top Form To Reach RD2

India’s Ramit Tandon wasted no time in his opening match of the Malaysian Open 2022, as he beat home player Ivan Yuen in just 30 minutes to advance to the second round of the Bronze event.

Yuen has been injured for the start of the new PSA season and his sharpness and match fitness was tested immediately by the talented Indian. Tandon possesses great skill and touch at the front of the court and any loose balls from Yuen were being despatched clinically.

Tandon took the first game 11-4 in comfortable fashion then continued to dominate proceedings. The World No.40 knew exactly what he needed to do to keep the pressure on his Malaysian opponent and used a mix of paces to not allow Yuen to settle at any point.

Tandon booked his place in the second round in style, winning the second and third games both 11-7 to set up an entertaining round two clash with Egypt’s Marwan ElShorbagy.

“It’s wonderful to be back in Malaysia,” said Tandon.

“The last time we were here it was under quarantine protocols so it’s nice to able able to walk around the city. I know Ivan [Yuen] has been injured, he’s just coming back, he’s a fantastic player so unfortunately, we couldn’t produce a fantastic match. The last time we played, I was injured so it’s nice to get my revenge with him being injured but I’m sure one day both of us will be phsyically fine.

“Tomorrow I’m playing Marwan [ElShorbagy], he’s a wonderful player and he’s been having a great season, I’m just looking forward to that. I just need to relax, eat and sleep well and come back to put on a good match tomorrow.”

Result:

Ramit Tandon (IND) bt Ivan Yuen (MAS) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-7 (30m)

Aboulmakarim Closes Out Day One With A Win

Egypt’s Nour Aboulmakarim closed out the glass court action on day one with a scrappy victory over Malaysia’s Yee Xing Ying to book her place in round two.

The match was decision filled throughout with both players involved in numerous traffic issues predominantly at the back of the court. In typical Egyptian style, Aboulmakarim was the more aggressive of the two on all four corners. Her dominance around the middle of the court was allowing her many opportunities to hit low kills, which she never seemed to miss. The Egyptian closed out the first two games 11-5, 11-8 to put one foot in the second round.

Ying found more success in the third game and held two game balls at 10-8 to pull a game back but four fantastic rallies from Aboulmakarim allowed her to close the match out in just over half an hour to reach round two.

The Egyptian had this to say after her win:

“I’ve played with Ying before in Pakistan last March, it was a tricky one, I hate playing left-handers. She’s so talented, it’s always a tough match, it was tough last time and it was again today. I wasn’t paying that well today so I was just trying to stick to my game plan and stay focused. In the last game I was down and I wasn’t physically ready to play one more game so I needed to focus to the last point and I managed to win.

“I’m playing Nadine Shahin tomorrow so that’s a tough one too, I will just try to do my best and play better.”

Result:

Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) bt Yee Xin Ying (MAS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 12-10 (33m)