Manchester Open 2024 – Day One: Evening Roundup

The evening session of the Manchester Open 2024 got underway from 5pm today at the National Squash Centre with eight matches split across two courts in the PSA World Tour Silver-level event.

Women’s wildcard Saran Nghiem scored the win of the evening session as she overcame compatriot Alicia Mead to delight the Manchester crowd. Nghiem has travelled back from the USA to play in the event as she is currently studying at Harvard University. After sealing the opening game 11-9, Nghiem was pegged back to 1-1 but showed her quality to regain the lead then impressively secure her round two place by winning the fourth game 11-0.

“I’m so happy to be through to the second round,” said Nghiem.

“If I’m going to get my first World Tour win anywhere, where better than the club I started playing squash at. I’m playing SJ tomorrow, she’s been at the top of the game for so long now and she’s obviously an incredible player so I’m just going to try and compete on there tomorrow and show my best squash. Hopefully get another win.”

Nghiem was joined by Aifa Azman, Torrie Malik and Hollie Naughton in claiming round one wins after they defeated Saskia Beinhard, Grace Gear and Cindy Merlo, respectively.

16-year-old Mohamad Zakaria scored his first World Tour victory in the evening session today as he defeated England’s Simon Herbert in five games on court two. The Egyptian was featuring in his first World Tour event without receiving a wildcard and took the opportunity with both hands. The Egyptian stormed through the opening two games to take a commanding 2-0 lead but Herbert fought back to force a fifth and final game. Zakaria regrouped in the decider to close it out 11-4.

George Parker battled past men’s wildcard Finnlay Withington to move through to the second round and was joined by Declan James and Lucas Serme after they beat Daniel Poleshchuk and Ben Smith.

Results: Men’s RD1
Declan James (ENG) bt Daniel Poleshchuk (ISR) 3-0: 13-11, 11-4, 11-4 (41m)
George Parker (ENG) bt Finnlay Withington (ENG) 3-1: 11-2, 3-11, 11-1, 11-5 (34m)
Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) bt Simon Herbert (ENG) 3-2: 11-8, 11-1, 9-11, 10-12, 11-4 (64m)
Lucas Serme (FRA) bt Ben Smith (ENG) 3-2: 9-11, 9-11, 11-1, 11-8, 11-6 (63m)

Results: Women’s RD1
Aifa Azman (MAS) bt Saskia Beinhard (GER) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 (26m)
[WC] Saran Nghiem (ENG) bt Alicia Mead (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-0 (34m)
Torrie Malik (ENG) bt Grace Gear (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 13-11, 11-8 (32m)
Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt Cindy Merlo (SUI) 3-1: 11-3, 7-11, 11-9, 11-5 (31m)

For updates on the Manchester Open 2024, visit the PSA website or follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. You can also keep track of all the live scores by clicking here.