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TTI Milwaukee Hong Kong Squash Open 2023 – Day Three: Player Reaction
The top half of the round three draw of the TTI Milwaukee Hong Kong Squash Open 2023 begins today with eight matches from the Hong Kong Squash Centre.
The top seeds in the men’s and women’s draws, Ali Farag and Nour El Sherbini, are both in action today taking on Patrick Rooney and Chan Sin Yuk, respectively.
Play begins at 12:00 (GMT+8) in Hong Kong and you can watch all eight matches live on SQUASHTV. You can also keep track of the live scores here. We will have reports and reaction from the winners below.
Order of Play
Gilis Cruises Into Quarters
Tinne Gilis became the first player to book their place in the quarter finals in Hong Kong following a comprehensive victory over Hana Moataz.
The Belgian delivered a high quality performance against Moataz, with Gilis’ pinpoint accuracy proving to be difficult for the Egyptian to handle.
It was the first time the pair had met on the PSA World Tour, with Gilis’ immaculate tactics helping her seal the win in just 22 minutes.
“I’m very happy. I think it’s the first time I’ve played her [Hana Moataz] on the PSA World Tour, so it’s nice to play someone new and she had two tough matches and I was hoping she would feel it a bit in her legs,” she said.
“I tried to focus on my game plan and it was good to have Greg [Gaultier] in my corner today because his knowledge of the game is so good, he sees things I don’t see so it’s good to have him in my corner and that definitely helped today.
“I wanted to start this game testing her a little bit physically to see how her legs are doing and I tried to hit my shots and my targets. It’s a pretty dead court so I tried to take advantage of that and that worked pretty well for me.”
Result
[6] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt Hana Moataz (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-3, 11-5 (22m)
Sobhy Dispatches Orfi in Three
US No.1 Amanda Sobhy produced a clinical display against Amina Orfi to seal a spot in the last eight of the Hong Kong Open.
It’s their third meeting already this season, with Sobhy coming out on top at the Qatar Classic and the U.S. Open.
Like Gilis in the opening match of the day, Sobhy produced a magnificent performance in all three games, with her organised squash seeing her draw first blood.
A few errors from Sobhy in the opening exchanges of the second game saw Orfi nudge ahead at 5-4, but the US Open was able to pull away from the Egyptian starlet at the business end of the game before doubling her match lead.
The match was wrapped up in just a few minutes, converting one of her nine match balls to progress to the quarter finals where she will take on Tinne Gilis on Friday.
“I’m pretty happy considering this is our third time playing this season and we’ve built up a seasoned veteran versus a young’un battle,” Sobhy said post-match.
“At the U.S. Open it was a little bit close for my liking and I wanted to send a message out today that I can do so much better and once I play with my head and tactics-wise instead of with my ego and emotions, it’s much prettier squash on my end.
“Even though she [Amina Orfi] was really close to beating me at the U.S. Open, I knew I didn’t play good squash and I wanted to redeem myself and I feel night and day better than what I was at the U.S. Open even though it’s been a short amount of time. I just wanted to play and let my squash do the talking this time so I’m really pleased to win in three.”
Result
[3] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-1 (30m)
Momen Extends Unbeaten Run Over Kandra
Tarek Momen extended his unbeaten run against Raphael Kandra to nine matches to progress to the quarter finals.
Momen had won all eight of the previous encounters with Kandra, and both players were going point for point in the opening game as Momen found success in driving the ball to the back of the court while forcing some crucial errors from the German to take the first 11-9.
The second game followed a similar pattern to the first with Momen and Kandra trading points until the latter had what looked to be an important two-point lead at 8-6. However Momen surged back in front to make it a two-game advantage.
Kandra, who scored an upset yesterday in defeating Fares Dessouky in straight games, established a three-point cushion in the third before clinching the game to halve the deficit.
Despite Kandra getting himself back into the contest, Momen stormed to a comfortable lead to have a wealth of match balls which he claimed to seal a quarter final berth.
“I’m very pleased with how I managed to keep it together. Raphael [Kandra] is a very tough contender, he had a good win yesterday and he’s been playing well recently,” Momen said.
“I knew I was in for a tough one and I already had a tough one yesterday so I wanted to get over it with the least damage possible, but against Raphael it’s not easy so I’m happy with the win.
“I was struggling with the first one and my lungs were opening up towards the second half of the match. The first two [games] I was struggling with a bit of residual fatigue from yesterday, I’ve had a tough week anyway so I was trying to get myself going and he didn’t make it easy for me.
“He kept fighting and played very well so I was pleased to get through that first one and get it together in the second one. The only one I was disappointed with was the third as I had good momentum at 5-3 up – we had a tough rally, I won it and I was in control and then I made some silly errors which got him back. He stepped up but I was happy to get on with it in the fourth, regroup and play well again.”
Result
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 3-1: 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-3 (45m)
Asal Comes From Behind to Reach Last Eight
Defending champion Mostafa Asal came from one game down to defeat fellow Egyptian Youssef Soliman 3-1.
Soliman, who was looking for a first victory against Asal in three years, drew first blood in a game which lasted 26 minutes with plenty of stoppages and lengthy rallies throughout.
However Asal stepped up in the second despite more fragmented play between the two, but the World No.3 drew level as he started to find his range going into the third.
A comprehensive win in the third game nudged Asal in front for the first time as Soliman requested a new ball at the end of the game to try and halt the ‘Raging Bull’.
However the new ball didn’t come to Soliman’s aid despite clawing his way back to within two points following a slow start. But Asal pressed on to advance to the last eight.
Post-match, Asal said: “It was a tough match, for sure.
“There was a lot of errors – six errors in the first game and Youssef [Soliman] was playing well.
“There was a lot of unforced errors, it was 9-2 up and I got back 11-10 to game ball and I was trying to close it out but I didn’t get it.”
Result
[3] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Youssef Soliman (EGY) 3-1: 11-13, 11-6, 11-2, 11-5 (62m)
El Sherbini Survives Chan Comeback To Progress In Five
Nour El Sherbini survived a major scare to defeat Hong Kong’s Chan Sin Yuk after the home player had fought back from a two-game deficit to force a decider.
Chan, who claimed impressive victories over World No.24 Tomato Ho and England’s Jasmine Hutton earlier this week, struggled to keep up with the power and precision of the Egyptian in the early stages, with El Sherbini taking a one-game lead after just six minutes and doubling her lead through an 11-3 scoreline.
The Hong Kong player started to take a few risks at the beginning of the third, firing the ball in short whenever possible, but with this came a few costly errors from her racket. Despite the hit-and-miss nature of her play, the World No.57 managed to save two match balls at 10-8 down, before taking the third to rapturous applause inside the Hong Kong Squash Centre.
Chan continued to read El Sherbini’s patterns of play incredibly well in the fourth and managed to push herself up the court to match the Egyptian stroke for stroke. Within what seemed a flash, the home player had two game balls to force a decider, and despite El Sherbini saving both, Chan kept her cool to clinch the subsequent tie-break 12-10.
No.1 seed El Sherbini built an early three-point cushion at the start of the fifth, but Chan continued to play into the front corners with deadly accuracy, drawing parity at 5-5. However, it was the Egyptian’s experience that came to the fore in the end, taking the fifth game 11-7 and walking off court after 51 minutes of breathtaking action.
After the match, she said: “It’s hard right now, I don’t really know what was happening, but it was my first time playing her and she beat some good players here in Hong Kong.
“I was in control in the first two games but it was a very tight last three games. She came back and everything was working for her. It was a new player for me so I didn’t quite know what to expect.
“She was going for every shot and having fun and that’s why it was working for her. I lost a little bit of confidence and a bit off my game plan, but I’m just glad I won in the end.”
Result:
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) 3-2: 11-4, 11-3, 10-12, 10-12, 11-7 (51m)
Watanabe Earns Hard-Fought Victory Over Hany
World No.16 Satomi Watanabe reached a second successive quarter-final at the Hong Kong Open after defeating No.7 seed Salma Hany in a stop-start four-game encounter.
Just five spots separated the two players in the world rankings coming into the match, and the opening stages were as close as these rankings suggested. The pair traded points throughout an opener which saw stoppages aplenty, but it was Hany who nicked it at the second time of asking in a tie-break.
The traffic issues in the middle of the court continued in the second, with the pair’s movement patterns leading to a number of strokes. However, it was Japan’s Watanabe who came out on top through an 11-6 scoreline to level proceedings.
The momentum of the match continued to move in Watanabe’s favour as she took the third, with straight drives down either wing working well for the Japanese player. The 24-year-old, who remained unperturbed throughout the scrappy encounter, sealed victory at the first time of asking, booking her quarter-final spot after 58 minutes of action.
After the match, she said: “It was really hard in the first two and the beginning of the third because of the stoppages, but I just told myself to make no comment and to get on with it because if you care too much about it I can’t actually stick to my game plan and get blinded in my head.
“If you’re hitting the right shot you should be getting the decision anyway, so I just try to play through any kind of contact there is.”
On her upcoming match against Nour El Sherbini, Watanabe said: “I’m really looking forward to playing her. I played her in the French league quite recently and she chopped me there so hopefully I can give a good game against her.”
Result:
Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt [7] Salma Hany (EGY) 3-1: 12-14, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 (58m)
Relentless Farag Defeats Rooney To Seal Quarter-Final Berth
World No.1 Ali Farag booked his spot in the Hong Kong Open quarter-finals after seeing off the threat of England’s Patrick Rooney in straight games.
Rooney arrived into the match full of confidence after a brilliant victory over Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez in the second-round, and started brightly by taking a 5-4 lead. However, Farag started to put some work into the legs of the Englishman as the game progressed, taking on the ball early and stretching the court with incredible ease.
After winning the first 11-7, the match continued in a similar fashion, with a number of lengthy rallies punctuating the second game. The Egyptian raced into a 10-5 lead, and despite Rooney saving three game-balls, doubled his lead after 24 minutes of action.
Farag, who has already captured three titles so far this season, continued to play with a relentless pace and accuracy in the third, using the full width of the front wall to force his opponent into some brutal movements. After 36 minutes of action Farag sealed his spot in the last eight, finishing the match with a deceptive backhand boast winner.
“I think I played very well,” Farag said after the match. “Patrick’s a great player, I don’t really know why he’s not higher up in the rankings, he’s got everything in the book. He moves really well, he volleys really well and I had to mix up the pace and use the entire front wall to get it beyond his reach.
“It wasn’t easy, he stayed in the rallies and to get through in three, I’m really happy.
“He was really structuring the game very well, he was taking my volley away, but I contained it as well as possible. Some points I was outplayed, but I was okay with that, and I weathered the storm and then imposed my game plan when I could.”
Result:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Patrick Rooney (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (36m)
Hesham Conquers Mosaad In All-Egyptian Duel
No.6 seed Mazen Hesham was the last player to progress to the quarter-finals on day three of the Hong Kong Open after defeating compatriot Omar Mosaad in four games.
In an even first game, it was Hesham who turned up the heat at the most important moments, using the front two corners whenever possible and using his deceptive backhand to twist Mosaad into the back corners.
After taking the first 11-9, ‘The Black Falcon’ continued to trade blows with Mosaad, with winners flying off both players’ rackets throughout an entertaining second game. However, it was World No.32 Mosaad who capitalised on his opponents errors in the latter stages to equalise the match.
Hesham began to stretch his legs as the match entered the third game, with ‘The Hammer of Thor’ struggling with the physical demands being placed upon him. Hesham subsequently raced his way through the game to retake the lead through an 11-3 scoreline.
Despite Mosaad finding his short game with more accuracy in the fourth and getting within a point of forcing a decider, Hesham kept his composure to save both game points and clinch the match in the subsequent tie-break.
“Mosaad took me by surprise tonight, he switched up his tactics a bit,” Hesham said after the match. “I think he played how I used to play with him when I was young, like very fast-paced and taking the ball short.
“Even when I won the first game, I wasn’t quite sure what I was doing. The second game was almost the same, I lost my concentration a bit but the third game was good. To be honest, he made me edgy, sometimes I had to go wide and sometimes he was going with the drives.”
On his upcoming match against World No.1 Ali Farag, he said: “I think it is going to be a tough match, Ali is on form at the minute and is the man to beat at the moment. I will try to enjoy it as much as I can and make it as hard for him as I can.”
Result:
[6] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-1: 11-8, 9-11, 11-3, 12-10 (46m)
