CIB Egyptian Open Day Two: Evening Roundup

Day two of the 2024 CIB Egyptian Open concluded with 16 more exciting matches, with Amanda Sobhy making a successful return to the tour after over eight months out, qualifier Nour Heikal continuing her impressive run, Marwan ElShorbagy coming back from two games down to beat No.6 seed Karim Abdel Gawad and Victor Crouin getting the better of highly rated youngster Mohamad Zakaria in a brutal five-gamer.

In the women’s event, USA’s Sobhy ended her long injury exile with a deserved 3-1 win over Malaysia’s Rachel Arnold. Sobhy, who has been away for almost nine months after rupturing her Achilles in the Hong Kong Open final last season.

The 31-year-old made a rapid start today, dominating the opening game against Arnold with an 11-3 win. Arnold struck back with an 11-5 win in game two to draw level, but could not deal with Sobhy’s increased intensity after that, with the American – who prior to her injury had reach World No.3 – putting the contest to bed with an 11-5 win of her own and then an 11-3 to wrap up.

“It’s just different levels of hard between the rehab, the training and getting myself back and then competing. I’m just so grateful to be back here and what I wanted to do was just enjoy the fact that I’m here,” Sobhy said.

Another player making her return after a long injury layoff was New Zealand’s Jolle King. King, who had not played a competitive match for 11 months, started well against Sivasangari Subramanium, but could not capitalise on a strong start, with the Malaysian winning 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 in 40 minutes.

20-year-old qualifier Heikal, meanwhile, had to dig in as she came back from two games down to record a tense and at times bad-tempered 13-15, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 win over Egyptian compatriot Malak Khafagy, with Heikal – who came through three qualifying matches to reach the main draw – the sole qualifier left in the competition.

“I’m so happy I managed to win those next three games. The first two games were the closest, the next three not as close,” Heikal said.

Also through from the women’s event are Egyptian quartet Amina Orfi, Nada Abbas, world champion Nouran Gohar and Rowan Elaraby, while Scotland’s Georgia Adderley provided the fireworks in the last women’s match of the day as she came back from 0-2 down to beat Egypt’s Hana Ramadan 5-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5.

In the mens draw, Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawad was the sole seeded casualty, with the No.6 seed crashing out to England’s Marwan ElShorbagy.

ElShorbagy looked in trouble when he went 0-2 down, but found a way to battle through, digging in to take the next three games 11-6, 11-2, 11-7.

ElShorbagy’s brother, Mohamed ElShorbagy, also had to fight back in his match against English compatriot Nathan Lake, coming back from a game down in a 12-14, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 win.

France’s Victor Crouin, too, was put through a stern test against 16-year-old qualifier Mohamad Zakaria. Crouin made the better start, taking the opener 11-8, before Zakaria fired back to draw level with an 11-9 win and then pull ahead with an 11-5.

Crouin, however, held out, taking the match to a fifth game with an 11-6 win in game four before taking a contentious final game 11-3.

Joining Crouin and the Elshorbagy brothers in the next round are New Zealand’s Paul Coll, Egyptian duo Mostafa Asal and Youssef Soliman, India’s Ramit Tandon and Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng.

Round three of the CIB Egyptian Open begins tomorrow (Sunday 01 September).

Watch the 2024 CIB Egyptian Open live on SQUASHTV. For more information on the CIB Egyptian Open 2024, follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

Results: 2024 CIB Egyptian Open Women’s Round Two (Evening Session)

Amina Orfi (EGY) bt Marina Stefanoni (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-2, 11-7 (34m)
Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt [8] Joelle King (NZL) 3-1: 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 (40m)
Nada Abbas (EGY) bt Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 3-1: 11-3, 10-12, 11-9, 11-5 (53m)
Nour Heikal (EGY) bt Malak Khafagy (EGY) 3-2: 13-15, 10-12, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (68m)
Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Rachel Arnold (MAS) 3-1: 11-3, 5-11, 11-5, 11-3 (32m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Barb Sameh (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-2 (25m)
[7] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt Salma Eltayeb (EGY) 3-1: 11-1, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6 (30m)
Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt Hana Ramadan (EGY): 3-2: 5-11, 6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 (52m)

Results: 2024 CIB Egyptian Open Men’s Round Two (Evening Session)

[2] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (27m)
Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) bt [6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 3-2: 8-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-7 (60m)
Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 3-1: 11-3, 6-11, 11-3, 11-7 (64m)
[3] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Joel Makin (WAL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (53m)
[8] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 3-1: 12-14, 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 (39m)
Ramit Tandon (IND) bt Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (34m)
Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) 3-2: 11-8, 9-11, 5-11, 11-6, 11-3 (74m)
Eain Yow Ng (MAS) bt Iker Pajares (ESP) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-5 (49m)