Champion Fiberglass Open: Ayman Claims Third Title Of Campaign

Egypt’s Kenzy Ayman continued her solid 2022-2023 campaign, as she claimed her third win, thanks to a victory at the Champion Fiberglass Women’s Open.

The Egyptian came into the Challenger 10 level competition at Houston Squash Club as the top seed, and she received a bye through the opening day of action. She then defeated a trio of Egyptians on her way to the final.

Ayman started her campaign in the second round in Houston, getting the better of Salma El Aify in straight games, before then coming back from behind in the quarter finals. She lost the first game to Ingy Hammouda, but fought back brilliantly, rounding off the win with a tie-break victory in the fourth.

The tournament’s top seed then had to go the distance in the semi-finals. Ayman found herself 2-1 ahead against compatriot and No.4 seed Menna Hamed. She then lost the fourth 11-9, but Ayman fought back to win the fifth 11-6 to move through to the final.

In the final, the Egyptian took on American Marina Stefanoni. She took the opening two games, but saw the American fight back to win the third to pull closer. However, Ayman was able to come through the fourth, a game that went to a tie-break, to get the job done.

The victory is her third on Tour this season, following wins at the 4th HCL SRFI Indian Tour – Chennai Leg and the CSC Delaware Open, both also Challenger 10 level crowns. She is just one of nine women to have won three times on Tour this season.

Results: Champion Fiberglass Women’s Open
Final
[1] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt [2] Marina Stefanoni (USA) 3-1: 3-1: 11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 12-10 (54m)

Semi-Finals
[1] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt [4] Menna Hamed (EGY) 3-2: 11-4, 7-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-6 (50m)
[2] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt [3] Malak Khafagy (EGY) 3-1: 11-6, 11-7, 6-11, 11-3 (40m)

Quarter Finals
[1] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt Ingy Hammouda (EGY) 3-1: 8-11, 11-3, 11-8, 13-11 (34m)
[4] Menna Hamed (EGY) bt Lowri Roberts (WAL) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 (19m)
[3] Malak Khafagy (EGY) bt [5] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) 3-1: 11-7, 13-15, 11-3, 11-5 (43m)
[2] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt [7] Caroline Fouts (USA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 (27m)

Second Round
[1] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt Salma El Aify (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-9, 11-6 (25m)
Ingy Hammouda (EGY) bt [6] Diana Garcia (MEX) 3-1: 10-12, 11-7, 13-11, 11-9 (50m)
Lowri Roberts (WAL) bt [8] Ali Loke (WAL) 3-0: 11-1, 11-7, 13-11 (23m)
[4] Menna Hamed (EGY) bt Bruna Marchesi Petrillo (BRA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-2, 11-1 (18m)
[3] Malak Khafagy (EGY) bt Riya Navani (USA) 3-1: 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8 (43m)
[5] Akanksha Salunkhe (IND) bt Lucie Stefanoni (USA) 3-1: 12-14, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 (33m)
[7] Caroline Fouts (USA) bt Winifer Bonilla (GUA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-2, 11-8 (18m)
[2] Marina Stefanoni (USA) bt Alina Bushma (UKR) 3-1: 11-5, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8 (35m)

First Round
Salma El Aify (EGY) bt Tabita Gaitan (GUA) 3-2: 8-11, 11-6, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7 (55m)
Ingy Hammouda (EGY) bt [WC] Nina Varma (USA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-4 (30m)
Lowri Roberts (WAL) bt [WC] Eliza Schuster (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (22m)
Bruna Marchesi Petrillo (BRA) bt Kincso Szasz (HUN) 3-2: 11-5, 8-11, 10-12, 13-11, 11-4 (53m)
Riya Navani (USA) bt Arisha Khan (USA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-4, 11-1 (18m)
Lucie Stefanoni (USA) bt Mary Mijas (GUA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (15m)
Winifer Bonilla (GUA) bt Diana Gasca (MEX) 3-2: 8-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9 (45m)
Alina Bushma (UKR) bt Sneha Sivakumar (SGP) 3-1: 9-11, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6 (42m)