Pittsburgh Open 2023 Quarter-Finals Round-Up: Soliman Takes Out Top Seed As Abouelghar Extends Run

No.7 seed Youssef Soliman knocked top seed Ali Farag out to progress to the semi-finals of the Pittsburgh Open after edging a pulsating encounter 3-2 at the Rivers Club.

Soliman, who had lost all four of the previous meetings with his fellow Egyptian, dug deep to reach the last four, with the match settled with an epic fifth game that went the distance.

Having taken a 1-0 lead with an 11-5 win in the first game, Soliman was pegged back by the reigning World Champion as Farag clinched the second 11-9.

Soliman regained his advantage, winning 11-9 in the third, but Farag surged back to once again restore parity, taking the fourth 11-8.

An intense clash throughout culminated in an excellent battle in the decider. Soliman looked to have sewn the match up when we moved into a 10-5 lead with match ball at his fingertips.

Farag, featuring in his first tournament since the Grasshopper Cup, remarkably saved five match balls to force a tiebreaker where the two cancelled each other out on numerous occasions. However it was Soliman who was able to edge the game 16-14 and advance to the semi-finals.

“I have no idea where to start from!” said Soliman

“Especially that fifth game – every single time I get him (Farag) he comes back. He might have been struggling physically as he’s just come back, but I get so excited when I see him (playing) like that.

“The fourth happened where he managed to come back and the fifth I was 10-6 up, I didn’t know what happened. I found myself match ball down and then it was the tiebreak.

“I’m so proud with how I managed to hold my nerve. Towards the end it was about holding my nerve and I’m so happy to be through.”

Soliman meets his Egyptian compatriot Marwan ElShorbagy tomorrow for a place in the final, who held off a fightback from Mazen Hesham to prevail 3-2.

In the other half of the draw, unseeded Mohamed Abouelghar continued his sparkling form as he took out another seed to reach the final four, defeating No.6 seed Joel Makin 3-0. 

Abouelghar, who took out former World Champion and No.4 seed Tarek Momen in round two, trailed the Welshman early on in the first game but the Egyptian fought back superbly to take the first 11-8.

World No.90 Abouelghar opened up a 7-3 lead in game two, only for World No.11 Makin to peg it back to 7-7. Despite Makin then saving one of three game balls, Abouelghar converted at the second attempt to take a two-game lead. 

Abouelghar, who’s not dropped a single game so far in Pittsburgh, booked his semi-final spot with an 11-7 victory in the third to maintain his perfect streak.

“I’m feeling extremely happy. I think I executed my game plan extremely well, even when I was 7-3 up in the second game, he came back to seven-all,” Abouelghar said after his last eight win.

“I didn’t lose my game plan at the time and I just kept going – the second game was extremely crucial.

“I’m enjoying myself and not thinking much about winning or losing, just trusting the process. I’m really glad to be back playing and competing. I’m playing with no pressure and I’m just enjoying myself.”

The Egyptian will face No.2 seed Diego Elias in the semi-finals, who notched a straight sets victory of his own against his fellow South American Miguel Rodriguez. 

The semi-finals of the Pittsburgh Open take place tomorrow (February 11), with play starting from 14:00 (GMT-5) at the Rivers Club. Both matches will be streamed live on the PSA website and on SQUASHTV.

For more information about the Pittsburgh Open, visit the PSA website or follow the PSA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Results – Quarter-Finals: Pittsburgh Open 2023

[7] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt [1] Ali Farag (EGY) 3-2: 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 16-14 (80m)

[3] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 3-2: 11-6, 11-8, 3-11, 2-11, 11-7 (52m)

Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [6] Joel Makin (WAL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (45m)

[2] Diego Elias (PER) bt [8] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (39m)

Draw – Semi-Finals: To be played February 11

[7] Youssef Soliman (EGY) v [3] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)

Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v [2] Diego Elias (PER)