Throwback Thursday: Story of 2016 Women’s British Open

#WhereLegendsAreMade

The final stage on the Women’s PSA Road to Dubai Standings will see the world’s leading female players head to Hull for the 2017 Allam British Open as they aim to qualify for a place at June’s lucrative PSA Dubai World Series Finals.

Only the top eight players on the standings will claim a coveted berth in Dubai, with Camille Serme, Nour El Sherbini, Nouran Gohar and Raneem El Welily all safely assured of their places.

The likes of Laura Massaro, Nicol David and Sarah-Jane Perry will look to gain enough points to qualify, while an achilles injury to fifth place Amanda Sobhy has opened the door for England’s Alison Waters, who currently sits at ninth on the standings.

Last year’s British Open brought about a historic week full of drama and excitement and you can relive the Women’s event below.

*First Round Results*
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Olivia Blatchford (USA) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-6 (25m)
Line Hansen (DEN) bt [14] Delia Arnold (MAS) 3-2: 9-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (64m)
Victoria Lust (ENG) bt [16] Emily Whitlock (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-7, 11-5 (34m)
[5] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [WC] Fiona Moverley (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 11-3 (29m)
[8] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Heba El Torky (EGY) 3-0: 11-2, 11-1, 11-3 (25m)
[9] Annie Au (HKG) bt [Q] Sarah Campion (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 (28m)
[10] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [Q] Mariam Metwally (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-3, 7-4 ret. (21m)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [Q] Nele Gilis (BEL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (21m)
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 (32m)
[Q] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) bt [15] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 3-1: 13-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7 (35m)
[11] Alison Waters (ENG) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-6 (22m)
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [Q] Coline Aumard (FRA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-4 (29m)
[6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt [Q] Tesni Evans (WAL) 3-2: 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 15-13 (61m)
Joey Chan (HKG) bt [12] Low Wee Wern (MAS) 3-1: 11-5, 11-9, 10-12, 10-8 ret. (54m)
Donna Urquhart (AUS) bt [13] Joshna Chinappa (IND) 3-1: 12-10, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5 (40m)
[2] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Mayar Hany (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-0 (26m)

World No.9 Omneya Abdel Kawy almost fell to a surprise first round exit against Welsh qualifier Tesni Evans.

Kawy was outfought in the opening two games as a tenacious showing from Evans put the 24-year-old on the cusp of a second round spot, but Kawy steadied the ship to go through in five.

Elsewhere, World No.1 and home hero Laura Massaro got her tournament off to a strong start with a 3-0 win over Olivia Blatchford.

*Second Round Results*
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 3-0: 11-9, 12-10, 11-5 (35m)
[5] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Victoria Lust (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-3 (31m)
[8] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [9] Annie Au (HKG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (27m)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [10] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 14-12, 11-6 (41m)
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [Q] Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) 3-1: 11-3, 11-7, 6-11, 11-1 (27m)
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [11] Alison Waters (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-2, 11-3 (28m)
[6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Joey Chan (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-9 (22m)
[2] Nicol David (MAS) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (27m)

Malaysia’s eight-time World Champion Nicol David continued her attempts to lift a sixth British Open crown after she swept past Australia’s Donna Urquhart in straight games.

Defending champion Camille Serme and number four seed Nour El Sherbini were also victorious after they dispatched Victoria Lust and Liu Tsz-Ling, respectively.

Serme’s win over Lust ensured that she would face Massaro in the last eight – a repeat of the 2015 final.

*Quarter-Final Results*
[5] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [1] Laura Massaro (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 (39m)
[8] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9 (70m)
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 14-12 (34m)
[2] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 3-1: 11-4, 12-14, 12-10, 11-2 (46m)

Serme kept her title defence alive with victory over Massaro, setting up a mouthwatering semi-final clash with Nouran Gohar, who beat compatriot Raneem El Welily.

The other quarter-final saw Nour El Sherbini and Nicol David set up a meeting for the third tournament in a row after El Sherbini dispatched US No.1 Amanda Sobhy, while David bested Kawy.

*Semi-Final Results*
[8] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [5] Camille Serme (FRA) 3-2: 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 9-11, 11-9 (80m)
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [2] Nicol David (MAS) 3-1: 11-6, 2-11, 11-9, 11-6 (43m)

Gohar and Serme played out one of the most entertaining matches of last season, with Serme fighting back from two games down to set up a nail-biting decider in front of an enraptured crowd at the Airco Arena.

But Gohar, playing with a maturity that belied her teenage years held her nerve to close out the win, becoming the second youngest women’s Allam British Open finalist in the modern era.

She would go on to play the youngest finalist, Nour El Sherbini – who was just 16 when she reached the finale if the 2012 edition – after El Sherbini completed a fourth successive win over David.

*Final Result*
[4] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [8] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 3-2: 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8 (75m)

El Sherbini became the first female Egyptian ever to lift the iconic title after bringing an end to Gohar’s title charge in a thrilling five-game final battle.

The lead changed hands multiple times throughout the 75-minute encounter with both players trading points with gusto in a tightly-contested and highly-charged battle. El Sherbini eased to the opening game before Gohar, playing with a maturity that belied her youth, fought back to go a game ahead and put herself within touching distance of the famous crown.

But El Sherbini came back at her and showcased the credentials that have seen her surge to the upper echelons of the Women’s game, taking the match 11-7, 9-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-8 to become the tournament’s second youngest winner at just 20 years of age after New Zealand’s Susan Devoy in 1984.

“It was a really tough match,” El Sherbini revealed after the final.

“Nouran is just 18 and she brought out all of the squash I had today. I really had to do all I could to win, it was really close. The last two points were really hard, I’m speechless.

“I’m really proud to be representing Egypt anywhere, so to be the first Egyptian to win the British Open is a huge thing for me. I’m really proud to be one of the four finalists today. I’m really happy that Egypt is proud of me and I want to keep making them proud.”

Log in to SQUASHTV to watch more matches from the British Open – including the 2013 final between Massaro and David.