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Black Ball Squash Open 2024 Day Two: As It Happens
The seeds enter the fray for day two of the Black Ball Squash Open 2024, with eight matches coming up on the all-glass court at the Black Ball Sporting Club.
Play gets underway from 12:00 (GMT+2) in Cairo, with reports and reaction from each individual match following below.
You can also keep track of the live scores by clicking here.
El Tayeb Surges Past Mickawy
World No.5 Nour El Tayeb opened up proceedings on day two of the Black Ball Squash Open with a dominant straight-games victory over Egyptian compatriot Zeina Mickawy.
A serve out of court on the first point from Mickawy summed up her start to the match, with El Tayeb racing through a 6-minute first game by an 11-3 scoreline.
As the match progressed, El Tayeb continued to push Mickawy deep before utilising her array of weapons in the front of the court, finding particular joy with her deceptive boast.
Despite Mickawy throwing in some counter-punches in the second and third games, errors came too often from her racket, with El Tayeb subsequently sealing victory after just 25 minutes of action.
“I’m very happy, I think I played very well today,” Tayeb said after the match. “Zeina and I train a lot together so she knows my game. I like to use my deception but she knows a lot of it, so it wasn’t easy today but I’m happy with how I played and how I won.
“The pace now is so fast. Everyone is quick now and the pace of the game has increased a lot. My athleticism is one of my assets is one of my assets and I hope I have it along with my squash.
“If I’m being honest, I’m chasing [the top three] but for interview purposes, I’m just looking to improve and be happy on court!”
Result:
[3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-5 (26m)
Relentless Ibrahim Stuns Makin To Reach Last Eight
Egypt’s Youssef Ibrahim produced one of his best performances in recent times to knock out No.6 seed Joel Makin in four games at the Black Ball Squash Open.
The pair engaged in a number of lengthy rallies in the early stages of the match, with Ibrahim remaining reluctant to fire the ball in short and instead go toe-to-toe with Makin in an intense physical battle. It was the Welshman though who edged ahead at the crucial juncture of the first and took it in 20 minutes by an 11-8 scoreline.
As the match progressed, Ibrahim grew in confidence and began to free his arm, displaying the weapons in his armoury to great effect. The World No.17 levelled the match with some superb squash before moving ahead early in the third and not looking back, taking it 11-4.
The pair traded points up to 6-6 in the fourth, but it was home favourite Ibrahim who saw a couple of refereeing decisions go in his favour to open up a buffer. The 25-year-old advanced to 10-8 and at the second time of asking sealed victory when Makin clipped a backhand into the tin.
“There’s so much I want to say but I’m speechless, I don’t know how to find the words,” Ibrahim said after the match. “It’s been a long struggle and finally…. I’ve been waiting for a good win for so many years since coming back from injury. This season I’ve been expecting better results and I’ve been talking to my coaches. They’re all here, everyone’s here. Everyone who’s worked so hard with me.
“I just wanted to perform and give 100 percent without any regrets. I’m not expecting too much from myself anymore. It’s a long journey and everyone has a different road but a lot of doubts come into your head when you lose so many times when you’ve been expecting to do better.
“I dug really deep. I’d forgotten to win those kinds of matches, I’d lost those kind of matches so often this season so to win a match like this against a mentally tough opponent, I’m just so proud of myself.
“The crowd’s support definitely makes a difference, but when you’re in the zone you don’t see anyone. You look back to familiar faces but the support made a difference today. I focused on my game and took it point by point.”
Result:
Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt [6] Joel Makin (WAL) 3-1: 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 (72m)
Clinical Hany Passes Eltayeb Test
No.6 seed Salma Hany put on a clinical performance to defeat fellow Egyptian Salma Eltayeb in straight games at the Black Ball Open.
Hany, a former semi-finalist in Cairo, took her opportunities well throughout the encounter, using her hold down both wings to disrupt the movement of Eltayeb.
Although Eltayeb put up some firm resistance with some impressive play of her own – coming within striking distance in all three games – it was World No.11 Hany who booked a date with No.3 seed Nour El Tayeb in the quarter-finals.
After the match, Hany said: “I’m feeling very good to play another tournament especially in my hometown. All my family are here, my coach is here. And the crowd is obviously with us, and it definitely feels very special to play here this week.
“Having the back up from them feels very special because you don’t always get to experience that and I’m definitely going to take advantage of that and enjoy my time on court as much as possible.
“Salma [Eltayeb] is a great player and was one of our top juniors. She had a really good win yesterday and has been playing really well on the professional tour. I definitely prepared well for the match and am glad I managed to win in three.
“Nour [El Tayeb] and I have played some great battles in the past and she’s a great friend of mine and great competitor. I always enjoy our time on court.”
Result:
[6] Salma Hany (EGY) bt Salma Eltayeb (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (33m)
Vintage Rodriguez Takes Down Momen In Five
Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez upset home favourite and No.5 seed Tarek Momen in a highly entertaining five-game duel to progress to the Black Ball Squash Open quarter-finals.
Rodriguez, who was still without most of his equipment which he lost while flying to Cairo, didn’t seem to be worried by these changes, racing out of the blocks and taking the first game 11-9. Soon after, the 38-year-old doubled his advantage in a second game that was filled with some vintage entertainment, with Rodriguez losing, picking up, and carrying one of his shoes for the entirety of one particular rally.
After receiving a conduct stroke in the latter stages of the second, Momen noticeably calmed down his demeanour on court, letting his racket do the talking as he came roaring back into the contest. The Cario-born 36-year-old took a one-sided third game 11-4, before sending the match to a decider after 64 minutes of play. Momen, in particular, dominated exchanges down the backhand wing, pinning Rodriguez deep and looking to volley whenever presented with the opportunity.
However, the match took yet another twist as Rodriguez raced into an early 4-0 lead in the fifth game. Traffic in the middle of the court continued as the match entered the latter phases, with Rodriguez sealing his first victory over the Egyptian since 2017 with a stroke.
After the match, Rodriguez said: “I came with no expectations. I was not supposed to be in this tournament, I had many issues before coming here. But I was feeling great, I was confident yesterday after my match. I knew it was going to be a battle but I had nothing to lose with Tarek.
“I want to thank Wael because he was with me, trying to push me especially in the fifth game because he shouted to me, I like that. I was losing, maybe not motivation but maybe pace and focus. I had the energy and the fitness, it was a fantastic performance from me, a terrific result, that was my main goal in this tournament and a great day for me!
“[Mohamed] ElSherbini lent me some clothes and this is the same outfit as yesterday so something is working! I have to go back to the hotel and wash it and play in it again in the quarter-finals. But when you have more difficult challenges, and when you have to fight, maybe that’s when you have more surprises.”
“I don’t know what happened [when losing a shoe mid-rally]. I was about to hit the ball with the shoe! It was slippery but when Tarek put the ball in the middle I was very smart to stop the rally and win the point.”
Result:
Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5] Tarek Momen (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 6-11, 11-5 (81m)
Ruthless Gohar Powers Past Aboelkheir
Top seed Nouran Gohar got her title defence underway in ominous fashion as she overcame teenage star Fayrouz Aboelkheir in straight games.
The ‘Terminator’ got off to her trademark quick start, hitting powerfully down both wings and pushing Aboelkheir deep into the back two corners. The World No.3 raced through the first game by an 11-4 scoreline but faced more resistance in the second, with Aboelkheir mixing up her height and pace smartly to disrupt the rhythm of her opponent.
Despite this change in tactics from the 18-year-old, Gohar moved away in the mid-phase of the game to double her advantage in the match and subsequently take an early and decisive lead in the third. Gohar, who lives within minutes of the Black Ball Sporting Club, sealed victory with a ripping boast after 31 minutes of action.
“Obviously, Fayrouz is a very talented player,” Gohar said after the match. “I wanted to put in a good performance – not just win but one I can build on for the rest of the week. I’m glad with a lot of things, but a few tweaks I can focus more on, but overall happy today.
“At this level it is just about small adjustments, but even these can make a big difference. So many players have very good hands, are very physical now. Everyone has trained really hard so it’s about the small details.
“I love the people here, as simple as that. Can you see a crowd like this anywhere else for the second round? I live five minutes away from here, train here, and it feels like home. They have pushed me big time in big matches in the past and I am hoping they can do that this week because I will need there help!”
Result:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 (31m)
Top Seed Farag Overcomes Battling Malik
World No.1 Ali Farag proved too strong for England’s Curtis Malik in their first-ever meeting on the PSA World Tour, advancing to the quarter-finals in three games.
Malik showed no signs of fatigue from his 85-minute effort yesterday in the early stages, pushing Farag all the way to a first-game tie-break. However, as has become custom in recent years, the Egyptian moved through the gears when it mattered, taking the first game 12-10.
From there, Farag began to dominate proceedings to a greater extent, taking control of the ’T’ and forcing Malik into some tough physical efforts.
The four-time World Champion took the second game 11-3 and kept his foot down on the pedal in the third, walking off court victorious after 35 minutes of action.
“The first was really tough. The players who played in the first round get a little bit of court advantage, and I thought Curtis was finding his corners a lot better than me in the first. I had to dig it out, and thankfully I won the first.
“I tried to break his rhythm [in the second], keep it simple. Credit to him, he came back in the third, but I was so happy to close it out.
“This time around I definitely hope to lift the title, but I still have a long road ahead of me. Miguel, I didn’t watch it, but he must have played so well to beat Tarek, so I have to be on my mettle and take advantage of the home support. We don’t often get to play in front of our families, our friends, our coaches, so I’m very grateful to them, and hopefully I pay them back tomorrow.”
Result:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Curtis Malik (ENG) 3-0: 12-10, 11-3, 11-7 (35m)
Abbas Wins All-Egyptian Duel with Metwally
World No.19 Nada Abbas advanced to the quarter-finals of the Black Ball Squash Open following a straight game victory over Egyptian compatriot Mariam Metwally.
The first game saw World No.35 Metwally rise to the challenge of taking on the seeded player on the all-glass court, hitting her targets with some aggressive squash and forcing a tie-break. However, it was Abbas who found her composure in the key moment to take the opener 12-10.
Metwally continued to mix winners with unforced errors early on in the second, allowing Abbas to move into a substantial lead and double her advantage by an 11-5 scoreline.
As the third progressed, Metwally seemed to be visibly struggling with her movement, with No.8 seed Abbas cruising her to way to victory after 30 minutes of action.
After the match, Abbas said: “It was a nervy start. I have played Mariam before and I know how dangerous she is, so in the first game I was trying to make it as long as possible, even if I wasn’t able to win it. I wanted to put some work into her legs. I’m really glad I was able to get that first game because I think it relaxed me a little bit.
“I felt at the beginning that the court was very fast, so I think after that first game the ball softened up a bit, so that allowed me to relax and find my targets. I think that was key.
On her upcoming match against No.1 seed Nouran Gohar, she added: “Nouran is Nouran. For me, there is nothing to worry about because I’m just happy to be playing her. I have nothing to lose and it’s just part of the experience. I will just try to push her as much as I can, and I’m looking forward to this match.”
Result:
[8] Nada Abbas (EGY) bt Mariam Metwally (EGY) 3-0: 12-10, 11-5, 11-4 (31m)
Hesham Blitzes Past Mueller
World No.6 Mazen Hesham produced a scintillating display to see off the dangerous Nicolas Mueller in straight games.
‘The Black Falcon’ was firing on all cylinders right from the offset, pulling off winner after winner to the delight of the packed house in the Black Ball Sporting Club.
Switzerland’s Mueller did what he could to go blow for blow with Hesham, but the Egyptian was too strong in the opening two games, taking them by 11-7 and 11-3 scorelines.
Mueller managed to get a foothold in the match in the third as he raced into a 6-2 lead with some entertaining play of his own, but No.4 seed Hesham showed impressive composure to level the scoreboard at 6-6, before moving to match ball at 10-8 up.
Despite Mueller saving both match balls, Hesham took the subsequent tie-break to set up a mouth-watering quarter-final tie with compatriot Youssef Ibrahim.
After the match, Hesham said: “I mean it is always difficult playing Nicolas Mueller. He can be very dangerous when he puts his mind to it, so I knew I had to be on my mettle today. He came back in the tie-break in the third, but I’m very happy with the result today.
“I know it is going to be really tough for me [against Youssef Ibrahim], so I’ll have to be on it from the start because I saw what he did to Joel today. He’s trying to get to some higher ranks, so I’m going to have to so my homework and be prepared for the next one. Hopefully, I can put on a good show for everybody here.”
Result:
[4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 12-10 (28m)
