Gaynor Cup RD1 Roundup: USA’s Clyne Avoids Opening Day Upset

13 February 2023

World No.17 Olivia Clyne booked her place in the second round of the Bahl and Gaynor Cincinnati Gaynor Cup after she got the better of Egypt’s Hana Moataz as the PSA World Tour Silver event got under way at the Cincinnati Country Club.

Clyne, the sole USA player in action today, has been in fine form on home soil recently after reaching the final of the Cleveland Classic earlier this month and she made a confident start to this week’s event with an 8-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 11-8 victory over World No.38 Moataz.

“There was a moment there where I was considering packing it in and not going on for the fourth,” said Clyne.

“I was in quite a bit of pain with my shins and I had a thought where I had a lot of matches and while I’m pleased with what I’ve done, if I would have gone out like that after the last two weeks it would have been a pity. I can deal with losing, but I can’t deal with being weak with a poisonous ‘feel sorry for myself’ mentality. I had to go on there, forget about how I was feeling and try and make it about the squash.

“I’m happy to live to fight another day.”

Clyne will go up against No.4 seed and fellow American Olivia Fiechter in the second round, with the pair set to meeting for the third time this month. Each player has a win apiece, with Clyne prevailing in the semi-finals in Cleveland, before Fiechter got her revenge at the same stage of the DAC Pro Squash Classic. Fiechter reached the final of last year’s Gaynor Cup, eventually falling to World No.1 Nouran Gohar.

The American will be joined in the last 16 by Wales’ Emily Whitlock, who dispatched Egypt’s Nour Aboulmakarim in four games to set up a second round fixture with No.5 seed Salma Hany.

“I kept my head really well,” said Whitlock.

“I thought I played okay and she played very well as the game went on. I’m fit enough and I think I’m as good with the racket as nearly anyone. I really like it here, it’s friendly, the courts are good and [tournament promoter] Nathan [Duggan] does a really good job.”

England’s Jasmine Hutton marked her first appearance at the Gaynor Cup since 2020 with an assured 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 victory over Hong Kong’s Ka Yi Lee. Hutton, who reached the top 20 for the first time this week, has a tricky match against No.2 seed Rowan Elaraby in store in the next round.

“I was struggling a bit mentally before this match, it’s been six weeks since I’ve been home, so I was just thinking that I have one more push before I head home to England,” Hutton said afterwards.

“I’m going to be expecting a really tough match [against Elaraby]. I’m going to have to bring my ‘A’ game. She’s playing some of her best squash at the moment, she’s seven in the world and I’m looking forward to giving it everything, who knows what can happen.”

There was also a fine victory for World No.37 Sana Ibrahim, who got the better of World No.26 Nadine Shahin by a 3-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8 scoreline.

“I was calling my coach to find out how to play the match because it was my first time with Nadine,” said Ibrahim.

Sana Ibrahim (right) takes on Nadine Shahin (left)

“You don’t have a game plan with her because she plays some good shots in the middle. I had to focus on every point and on every shot she played. In the first game I didn’t manage it, I couldn’t move and she played kills really well.”

The Cincinnati Gaynor Cup continues tomorrow with the seeded players – including defending champion Gohar – entering the fray. Matched will be streamed live on the PSA World Tour website.

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Results – First Round: 2023 Bahl and Gaynor Cincinnati Gaynor Cup

Mariam Metwally (EGY) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-2 (26m)

Sana Ibrahim (EGY) bt Nadine Shahin (EGY) 3-1: 3-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8 (41m)

Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 3-1: 11-3, 14-12, 9-11, 11-9 (51m)

Lucy Turmel (ENG) bt Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) 3-2: 11-9, 5-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-9 (55m)

Olivia Clyne (USA) bt Hana Moataz (EGY) 3-2: 8-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 11-8 (52m)

Rachel Arnold (MAS) bt Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-2: 11-5, 7-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9 (49m)

Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) bt Yathreb Adel (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 7-11, 5-11, 11-5, 11-2 (45m)

Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt Ka Yi Lee (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-5, 11-3 (24m)

Draw – Second Round: To Be Played February 13th

[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v Mariam Metwally (EGY)