Combaxx International Championships QF: Fernandez and Farkas Break Egyptian Dominance

Spain’s Marta Dominguez Fernandez and Hungarian Balazs Farkas will be the only non-Egyptians in the last four of the CAS – Serena Hotels/Combaxx International Squash Championships in Islamabad.

Hungary’s Farkas, the No.4 seed for the men’s event, came through his quarter final contest with Egypt’s Yassin Elshafei in straight games. The pair were level after two games, but from there, Farkas was able to control the game more, winning the next two games 11-8 and 11-3 respectively, to advance to the semi-finals.

He will now take on top seed Moustafa El Sirty in the last four after the Egyptian got the better of compatriot Ibrahim Elkabbani, also in four games. The other semi-final will see Egypt’s Mohamed ElSherbini and Yahya Elnawasany take each other on, after both won their respective quarter final contest in four games.

In the women’s event, Spaniard Marta Dominguez Fernandez is the sole non-Egyptian into the last four, thanks to a come from behind victory over Austrian No.1 Jacqueline Peychar. Fernandez, the No.2 seed for the event, was 2-1 down in the match, but fought back well. She dropped just six points across the last two games to win in five, and set up a semi-final clash with Egypt’s Fayrouz Aboelkheir.

The tournament’s No.3 seed took on German No.2 Katerina Tycova in her quarter final contest and won in straight games, including a third game tie-break. Unseeded Nour Heikal is through to the other semi-final in Islamabad, and she will face compatriot and No.4 seed Malak Khafagy.

The semi-finals of the CAS – Serena Hotels/Combaxx International Squash Championships will take place on Saturday, October 22, with the last four in both draws aiming to reach Sunday’s finals in Islamabad.

Men’s Quarter Final Results: CAS – Serena Hotels/Combaxx International Squash Championships
[1] Moustafa El Sirty (EGY) bt Ibrahim Elkabbani (EGY) 3-1: 9-11, 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 (40m)
[4] Balazs Farkas (HUN) bt [8] Yassin Elshafei (EGY) 3-1: 11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3 (43m)
[3] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) bt [5] Curtis Malik (ENG) 3-1: 7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-6 (48m)
[2] Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bt Farhan Zaman (PAK) 3-1: 11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 13-11 (37m)

Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, October 22
[1] Moustafa El Sirty (EGY) v [4] Balazs Farkas (HUN)
[3] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) v [2] Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY)

Women’s Quarter Final Results: CAS – Serena Hotels/Combaxx International Squash Championships
Nour Heikal (EGY) bt Haya Ali (EGY) 3-1: 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-3 (32m)
[4] Malak Khafagy (EGY) bt [5] Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SGP) 3-0: 11-4, 12-10, 11-5 (20m)
[3] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt [6] Katerina Tycova (GER) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 12-10 (34m)
[2] Marta Dominguez Fernandez (ESP) bt [8] Jacqueline Peychar (AUT) 3-2: 11-8, 4-11, 8-11, 11-4, 11-2 (32m)

Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, October 22
Nour Heikal (EGY) v [4] Malak Khafagy (EGY)
[3] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) v [2] Marta Dominguez Fernandez (ESP)