U.S. OPEN DAY TWO: Player Reaction – COURTS GW & 14

The second round of the U.S. Open presented by Truist begins today, as the seeded players enter the tournament at the brand-new Arlen Specter US Squash Center.

We’ll be bringing you reports and reaction from Glass Court West and Court 14 right here.

You can watch all the action LIVE on SQUASHTV, while action from the traditional courts will be shown live and for free on our Facebook and YouTube pages.

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If you’re in and around the Philadelphia area this week, you can buy tickets for the event here.

You can also keep up with the live scores from the event here.

GW Schedule
All times local (GMT-4)

Court 14
12:00 Joshua Chinappa (IND) v Anna Serme (CZE)
12:45 Omar Mosaad (EGY) v Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA)
13:30 Lucy Turmel (ENG) v Melissa Alves (FRA)
14:15 Patrick Rooney (ENG) v Auguste Dussourd (FRA)
19:00 Farida Mohamed (EGY) v Emily Whitlock (WAL)
19:45 Vikram Malhotra (IND) v Raphael Kandra (GER)
20:30 Nele Gilis (BEL) v Tesni Evans (WAL)
21:15 Mazen Hesham (EGY) v Gregoire Marche (FRA)

Watch all the action live from Court 14 here.

Joel Makin is through to the last 16 after beating No.6 seed and former World No.1 Karim Abdel Gawad.

The first game was a stop-start affair, that Makin eventually took 13-11.

The 26-year-old kept up the momentum in the second and led for almost the games entirety. Gawad, though, never looked out of it and had a golden chance to find parity, but was unable to convert two game balls. After these warning shots, Makin found his rhythm again, wrapping up the second game 14-12.

Although Gawad continued to battle in the third game, Makin ultimately had too much, as the World No.9 saw out the match with an 11-8 victory in the third game.

Speaking after the match, Makin said: Gawad’s obviously been in and out of form and with his body, but that doesn’t make any difference to me. He’s a class player when he’s on and is so dangerous. I knew I had to be aggressive with him and get across the middle and hit him off the ball, get on top of him and don’t let him play his shots. I wanted to inject pace and be aggressive. When I did that I got on top of him.”

On saving the two game balls in the second, he said: “I was backing myself. I’m playing well. If I’m going to get into the top eight and stop getting these draws , I need to close these guys out. And that’s what I was thinking, just taking my chances and showing I can beat players like [Gawad] 3-0. I’m very happy with that.”

Meanwhile, on Court 14, India’s Joshna Chinappa secured a comfortable victory over Czech Republic’s Anna Serme.

Result – Glass West
Joel Makin (WAL) bt [6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 3-0: 13-11, 14-12, 11-8

Result – Court 14
Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt Anna Serme (CZE) 3-0: 11-2, 11-7, 11-3 (20m)

King through in straight games

New Zealand’s Joelle King progressed to a last-16 encounter with India’s Joshna Chinappa, courtesy of her 3-0 win against Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam.

The first game was tight, with Subramaniam taking advantage of King’s slow start. The 33-year-old, though, was able to claw her way back into the game, securing it 14-12 after an intense battle.

The subsequent games were more routine for the No.6 seed and she saw off her her 22-year-old opponent with 11-7 and 11-4 victories.

Speaking after the match, King said: “Siva is obviously very talented and it could potentially have been a banana skin, so I’m really pleased to have come off as well as I did. I think the first game made the way for the rest of the match, she started better than me and I just tried to find a way to win that first one and then began to feel a bit more confident.”

On her next opponent, Joshna Chinappa, she said: She’s been training in Bristol and we’ve played and trained together quite a bit. It’s hard when you’re playing someone you haven’t played, but we’ve played many times over the years and I’d Harte to know what our head-to-head is! It’s going to be a tough battle!”

On Court 14, France’s Sebastien Bonmalais came from a game down to beat India’s Ramit Tandon.

Results – Glass West
[6] Joelle King (NZL) bt Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) 3-0: 14-12, 11-7, 11-4 (32m)

Results – Court 14
Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-1: 8-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-9 (70m)

Willstrop rolls back years to stun ElShorbagy

English World No.31 James Willstrop pulled off one of the shocks of the tournament as he beat Egyptian No.5 seed Marwan ElShorbagy 3-1.

The warning signs were there for ElShorbagy in the first game, with former World No.1 Willstrop looking sharp in a narrow 11-9 defeat.

That would be as good as it got for ElShorbagy. The 38-year-old Willstrop, a runner up in 2007, played some of his best squash in years. His relentless work rate and keen accuracy caused ElShorbagy, ten years his junior, problems throughout, and he took the second game 11-5 and the third 11-4.

Though ElShorbagy attempted to mount a comeback of his own in the fourth, he could not find a way past the irrepressible Willstrop, who held out to seal an 11-8 win, much to the delight of the crowd.

After the match, Willstrop said: “I feel in shock a bit at the minute. I haven’t been anywhere near that level really. I think experience counts for a lot but he’s a great champion. I thought the way he played today and handled himself [was great]. It’s not easy being on the wrong end of it. I was playing well and he just handled himself so well at the end there, really lost in a champion’s way and I admire that. Top man from him today.

“What a player he is, to do that is beyond what I could have hoped for. I was just trying to play each rally and it just kept working and working and I didn’t look any further than the next few minutes.

“I just love the U.S audiences, who are always unbelievable. They get behind someone and give it an atmosphere and they tell you what they think and they mean. It’s wonderful to play in front of that and it’s great, after the last couple of years, to see a stadium like this. It’s what it’s all about really. To be back here playing is a bit of a dream and to play in an atmosphere like this with a great crowd. It’s just wonderful and I feel lucky, really.”

On Court 14, France’s Melissa Alves saw out an impressive 3-0 victory over England’s Lucy Turmel.

Results – Glass Court West
James Willstrop (ENG) bt [5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) 3-1: 9-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (47m)

Results – Court 14
Melissa Alves (FRA) bt Lucy Turmel (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (43m)

Shahin downs USA’s Clyne

Egypt’s Nadine Shahin secured a first PSA World Tour win against the USA’s Olivia Clyne to seal her place in the last 16.

The 24-year-old Shahin, who had not beaten Clyne in their two prior matches, looked relaxed and at ease throughout the competitive match.

She took the first two games 11-9 and 13-11, only for Clyne to fight back with an 11-4 victory in the third. Shahin, however, regained her composure to seal the match with an 11-9 victory in the fourth.

After the match, Shahin said: “I’m psyched to have won, Olivia’s been playing so well lately. It’s always close with her, we’ve played twice in [PSA World Tour] matches and that’s my first time beating her.

“I went into the match excited, I had a really tough loss in the CIB Egyptian Open and I keep thinking too much about how I play and the rankings. But I let it all go today and I think that’s why my squash has been better. It’s always about the mental game now. She’s [World] No.11 I’m [World] No.14, there’s nothing between us, it’s all about the mental game for me now.”

On Court 14, England’s Patrick Rooney came from two games down to stun France’s Auguste Dussourd 3-2.

Results – Glass Court West
Nadine Shahin (EGY) bt Olivia Clyne (USA) 3-1: 11-9, 13-11, 4-11, 11-9 (45m)

Results – Court 14
Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 3-2: 7-11, 7-11, 11-2, 11-5, 13-11 (66m)

Elias eases into next round

Peruvian No.7 seed Diego Elias cast aside England’s Adrian Waller to cruise into the third round.

Elias stormed out of the blocks in game one. After Waller took the game’s opening point, the Peruvian Puma reacted with six unanswered of his own, before comfortably taking the first game 11-3.

Elias kept the pressure up throughout the match. He took the second 11-5 in comfortable fashion, before repeating the scoreline in the third to wrap up the win in 32 minutes.

“I’m feeling very good, he’s a very tough opponent. He’s beaten me before so I really wanted this win and I played 100 percent from the first point.”



On potential semi-final opponents Vikram Malhotra and Raphael Kandra, he said: “Today was a good first match and I’m going to feel good for tomorrow. Raphael and Vikram are two very good players and I’ll need to be at my best to win tomorrow.”

After the match, Elias said: “I’m feeling very good, he’s a very tough opponent. He’s beaten me before so I really wanted this win and I played 100 percent from the first point.”



On potential semi-final opponents Vikram Malhotra and Raphael Kandra, he said: “Today was a good first match and I’m going to feel good for tomorrow. Raphael and Vikram are two very good players and I’ll need to be at my best to win tomorrow.”

On Court 14, Wales’ Emily Whitlock progressed after her Egyptian opponent Farida Mohamed was unable to complete the match due to a medical complaint.

Result – Glass West
[7] Diego Elias (PER) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (32m)

Result – Court 14
Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt Farida Mohamed (EGY) 3-1: 9-11, 11-5, retired (31m)

Spectacular comeback from Perry stuns Mickawy

No.5 seed Sarah-Jane Perry completed a miraculous comeback against Egypt’s Zeina Mickawy to set up a third-round meeting with Wales’ Emily Whitlock.

Mickawy could have been forgiven for thinking she had one foot in the last 16 a number of times in today’s match. After Perry had made a troubled start the the match, the 22-year-old worked her way to a commanding two-game lead.

In the third game, Mickawy had a golden opportunity to cut the improving Perry down with three match balls. Perry, however, defended doggedly, seeing them off and flipping a 10-7 deficit on its head to take the third 12-10.

Once again, Mickawy had match ball in the fourth, only for Perry to once more see it off and level the tie with another 12-10 win.

This time, it was Perry’s time to take the offensive, and she was able to secure the most unlikely of victories with a 11-9 win in the fifth.



Speaking after the match, Perry said: “I’m not quite sure how I won that. For patches I got in front, but I didn’t think I was actually taking advantage, I was just trying to keep pushing and pushing and [thinking] ‘come on, you can do it’.

“I saw a few people today and yesterday save match balls and win, Patrick Rooney, in particular, was a few down in the fifth. So I just kept going. And when I’d saved those match ball in the third and the fourth, I just kept saying in the fifth ‘keep going, there’s a chance after those games that she’s going to get edgy.’ For a lot of the match there was zero edginess in anything she was doing, and quite a lot in mine.

“It’s a bit ironic really that the match ball I saved in the fourth was the best shot I played in the match by a country mile. A beautiful backhand volley dropped, absolutely chopped in there and I didn’t do that in the rest of the match but I had to do it at that point, flight or fight I think it’s called. I’m very relieved to be through and hopefully got rid of all the nerves now and looking forward to tomorrow.”

On Court 14 Germany’s Raphael Kandra came from 2-1 down to beat India’s Vikram Malhotra 3-2.

Results – Glass West
[5] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-2: 12-14, 8-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-9 (58m)

Results – Court 14
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Vikram Malhotra (IND) 3-2: 11-9, 5-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5 (58m)

Asal steps up recovery with convincing win

Egypt’s No.8 seed Mostafa Asal overcame a stubborn Iker Pajares Bernabeu and a lingering shoulder injury to progress to the third round, where he will face France’s Baptiste Masotti.

Asal started strongly, taking the first two games 11-6 and 11-4 respectively.

The third, though, was a far more even affair. Both players traded the lead in a stop-start game, before Asal finally was able to make the breakthrough to seal the third game 14-12 and the match 3-0.

After the match, Asal said: “Iker is a very tough opponent. I wasn’t sure whether I would make it here [due to a shoulder injury suffered in the Oracle NetSuite Open], I made it in the last second. It was very difficult to recover and I was hoping it wasn’t dislocated, because if it was I wouldn’t be able to do anything. Yesterday [during practice] was my first day playing since San Francisco.

“I was going to test and I was saying ‘Im going to play, I’m not going to play.’ I’m playing fewer tournaments than [the top players] so it was difficult, but hopefully it’s going to be OK. I’m happy to be recovering and after the tournament I’m going to recover very well.

“Iker is a very tough opponent, I’m seeing him playing very good squash against the top eight players and taking games off them, he can take a scalp. But I’m very relaxed, when you have a kind of injury you play your best because you are mentally free, you’re just going for it and enjoying it. Even if I lost I’m happy to recover. I’m here to play my best match against Baptiste Masotti.”

On Cout 14, Belgium’s Nele Gilis beat Wales’ Tesni Evans 3-0.

Results – Glass West
[8] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 14-12 (49m)

Results – Court 14
Nele Gilis (BEL) bt Tesni Evans (WAL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (41m)

Fiechter sets up all-American matchup with Lobban victory

The USA’s Olivia Fiechter put in one of her best performances to beat Australia’s Donna Lobban and progress to a third-round “showdown” with the highest seeded American and World No.3 Amanda Sobhy.

Fiechter was excellent throughout, drawing confidence from a boisterous home crowd who cheered her on despite her playing in the evening’s final match.

The first game was the most evenly contested, with Fiechter coming out in top with an 11-6 win. This proved to be a sign of things to come, as Fiechter pressed her advantage ruthlessly to take the match inside 20 minutes with 11-4 and 11-5 victories in the second and third games.

Speaking after the match, Fiechter said: “I’m very happy. I don’t think I’ve played that late at night since the juniors. But playing at this venue, put me up any time of the day and I’ll be psyched! I’m so happy because the last time we played I lost out 13-11 in the fifth, so I was really up for a battle today and with an experienced player like Donna I was going to have to come out all guns blazing. I’m very pleased with my performance and to get through in three.

“[Playing with a home crowd at the Arlen Specter] is as good as it gets. I’ve family and friends here, including my first ever squash coach, who drove up from Virginia to come and watch me. And my coach Graeme Williams, who’s been such an important part of my team, was able to watch me for the first time in person. I’m so pleased I could put in a good performance for them and to make it to my first round of 16 is so exciting.

“I’m pumped [to be playing fellow American Amanda Sobhy in the next round]. Amanda and I train a lot together and we always have battles in practice. She knows I’m coming for her I think. I’m really looking forward to an all-American showdown.”

On Court 14, Egypt’s Mazen Hesham beat France’s Gregoire Marche 3-1 to bring the day’s play to an end.

Results – Glass West
Olivia Fiechter (USA) bt Donna Lobban (AUS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (20m)

Results – Court 14
Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-1: 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 (60m)