E.M. Noll Classic: Lee Wins At Second Time Of Asking

After making the final last year, England’s Charlie Lee went on better in 2023, beating Egypt’s Seif Shenawy to win the E.M. Noll Classic.

Lee made it to last year’s final at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, but lost out to compatriot Sam Todd. This year, the Englishman came into the event as the No.3 seed, and started his week with a comfortable straight games victory over another Englishman, in Ben Smith.

Lee then took on Egypt’s Zahed Salem, the former World No.14, in the quarter finals, and after a tight first game, he was able to come through in three. The semis saw the Englishman take on top seed Andrew Douglas, in his toughest test of the week. The World No.64 fell behind after three games, but battled back to win in a decider 11-4, to move through to the final in Philadelphia for the second year.

The final saw Lee come up against No.8 seed Seif Shenawy, who had also caused an upset in the last four by downing Bernat Jaume. The Englishman held a two-game lead in the contest on Sunday afternoon, before the Egyptian had to retire midway through the third after aggravating an injury he suffered earlier in the week.

The win is the Englishman’s second in the last twelve months, following a victory at the Sekisui Open in April 2022. Lee has also jumped up six spots in the World Rankings, moving into the world’s top 60 for the first time, to sit at a career-high of World No.58.

Results: E.M. Noll Classic
Final
[3] Charlie Lee (ENG) bt [8] Seif Shenawy (EGY) 3-0: 11-2, 11-7, 5-2 retired (21m)

Semi-Finals
[3] Charlie Lee (ENG) bt [1] Andrew Douglas (USA) 3-2: 11-7, 6-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-4 (53m)
[8] Seif Shenawy (EGY) bt [2] Bernat Jaume (ESP) 3-1: 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10 (42m)

Quarter Finals
[1] Andrew Douglas (EGY) bt [7] Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY) 3-2: 8-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-4, 12-10 (58m)
[3] Charlie Lee (ENG) bt [5] Zahed Salem (EGY) 3-0: 12-10, 11-5, 11-2 (24m)
[8] Seif Shenawy (EGY) bt Tang Ming Hong (HKG) 3-1: 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7 (36m)
[2] Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt [6] Christopher Gordon (USA) 3-2: 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8 (56m)

First Round
[1] Andrew Douglas (USA) bt Wong Chi Him (HKG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-6 (37m)
[7] Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY) bt Tom Walsh (ENG) 3-1: 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6 (57m)
[5] Zahed Salem (EGY) bt Joseph White (AUS) 3-1: 9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-1 (38m)
[3] Charlie Lee (ENG) bt Ben Smith (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-2 (28m)
Tang Ming Hong (HKG) bt [4] Sam Todd (ENG) 3-0: 11-1, 11-8, 11-3 (24m)
[8] Seif Shenawy (EGY) bt Spencer Lovejoy (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 13-11 (43m)
[6] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt Khaled Labib (EGY) 3-0; 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (38m)
[2] Bernat Jaume (ESP) bt [WC] Vinicius Leao Rodrigues (BRA) 3-0: 11-1, 11-9, 11-7 (27m)