Asal Given Chance To Become World No.1 As Farag Withdraws From Upcoming Houston Open

5 January 2023

World No.2 Mostafa Asal has been handed a golden chance to reach the summit of the PSA world rankings due to the withdrawal of the current World No.1 Ali Farag. Prior to Farag’s withdrawal, Asal would have needed to win the event had Farag reached the semi-finals or better, but now Asal only needs to reach the final to become World No.1 on January 16.

Farag is still struggling with a knee problem that he sustained during the U.S. Open 2022. Farag was forced to withdraw from the Platinum event final with Diego Elias and looked to be carrying the injury at the Grasshopper Cup soon after. Since then, Farag has not featured in a PSA event.

‘The Raging Bull’ now becomes the top seed for the event and bids to claim his third title of the season after victories at the Grasshopper Cup and the Hong Kong Open. He is seeded to meet in-form Englishman Mohamed ElShorbagy, who has now moved to No.2 seed in the event. Mazen Hesham has also moved to a more favourable position as he is now the No.4 seed and moves into the top half of the draw.

France’s Gregoire Marche has become a top eight seed for the event and will now receive a bye in round one before facing either Shahjahan Khan or compatriot Auguste Dussourd in round two. Fellow Frenchman Sebastien Bonmalais is now a 9/16 seed and faces Aly Abou Eleinen, who fills the vacant spot in the draw.

You can watch all the action from the Houston Open 2023 live on SQUASHTV, with live scores available here.

Updated Draw: Houston Open 2023

[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) Bye

Cesar Salazar (MEX) v [9/16] Baptiste Masotti (FRA)

[9/16] Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) v Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP)

[6] Youssef Soliman (EGY) Bye

[7] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) Bye

Leonel Cardenas (MEX) v [9/16] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI)

[9/16] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) v Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)

[4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) Bye

[3] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) Bye

[WC] Arhan Chandra (USA) v [9/16] Raphael Kandra (GER)