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Hong Kong Open Day Four – Player Reaction
The Everbright Securities International Hong Kong Squash Open continues today and we’ll have reports and reaction from the third round matches at the Hong Kong Squash Centre right here.
The day begins at 12:00 with the in-form Joelle King taking on England’s Katie Malliff, who is appearing in the third round of a PSA World Tour Platinum event for the first time. King’s compatriot – World No.2 Paul Coll – will also be in action today, as will stars such as Mostafa Asal and 2017 champion Nour El Sherbini.
You can watch all the action on SQUASHTV, while live scoring is available here.
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Order of Play
(All times are local GMT+8)
King Advances to Last Eight
Defending champion Joelle King has booked her place in the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Open courtesy of an 12-10, 11-4, 11-5 victory over England’s Katie Malliff in 32 minutes.
It was the pair’s first match on the PSA Tour, with Malliff securing a place in the third round of a PSA World Tour Platinum for the third time.
Malliff played some of her best squash of the event in the first game as she tested the experienced Kiwi and forced her into a tie-break.
However, King’s quality ultimately shone through in the next two games and she closed out the win to set up a quarter-final clash with either England’s Sarah-Jane Perry or Scotland’s Lisa Aitken.
“I’ve never even stepped on court with her before,” said King.
“She’s a very tricky player, she’s quite similar to SJ [Perry] in some ways. It took me a while to start reading what shots she plays and how she hits the ball. The first was very close and I was very happy to come away and win that. Then it felt like I could relax a little bit and take control of the middle of the court.
“We watched a little bit on court of her before, but it’s nothing quite like being on court with them and getting to feel how they hold the ball. She’s different to a lot of players and she’s an up and comer and I’ve seen her name in a lot of the draws and kept an eye on her to see how she’s doing. I’m very happy to come away 3-0.
“I like to think when you’ve been on tour for 16 years you gain a bit of experience. I think with some of the close games that I’ve been having I’ve managed to close out purely because of experience. It comes to help you out in situations like that especially. The first game was quite a crucial one and it took the wind out of her sails, and I was able to stamp my authority out there.
“I’ve got a lot of good memories here [Hong Kong]. It was my last World Juniors and the tournament where I decided I was going to turn pro and I also won my only major here. I’m through to the quarters, I still need to take it one day at a time and hopefully I can continue to play good squash.”
Result
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bt Katie Malliff (ENG) 3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 11-5 (32m)
Perry Dispatched Aitken
England No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry will compete in the last eight after she dispatched World No.31 Lisa Aitken to set up a last eight battle with the in-form Joelle King.
Perry had won all three of their previous matches by 3-0 margins, but this time around Aitken was able to put a game on the board.
World No.8 Perry started on the front foot and was able to find her length game immediately as she built up a 2-0 lead.
Aitken came out firing in the third though as she hit her targets at the front of the court, meaning she was able to catch her opponent off guard as she pulled a game back.
Perry asked for a new ball at the end of the third game, but initially it did little to halt Aitken’s momentum, with the Scottish player giving Perry no time to reset and get back to the ’T’ between shots.
Aitken looked set to level the scores after going 9-5 ahead but some more fine length hitting from Perry – coupled with three crucial errors from Aitken towards the back end of the game – handed the win to Perry.
“I thought for two and a half games of that I was really steady, just trying to hit the back corners and play some simple squash,” said Perry.
“That seemed to be enough, but she came out firing in the third game, the ball died off and she was absolutely ripping through the back and on the boasts. I had to try to get myself back into gear in the fourth and it took half of the fourth game to do it, but I started finding some length again which was good. Thankfully I drew a few errors out and over the years I’ve won a lot of those tight matches and tight games.
“Even though I’m not classed as a steady player in those situations, I do back myself and even with those shots I back myself. For some reason I manage to come out on the better side more often than not, not always, but I’ve got the belief and strong mentality at the end of those games. I was pleased to close it out in four.
“Lisa’s a great friend. It’s good to see her back after injury in New Zealand and doing well and playing good squash. It’ll be good to see how she goes in the second half of the season.
“I think even when I was well down in the fourth I had to get back to playing the right squash. She was controlling the first half of that fourth game and I was trying to get that control back, even if I didn’t win that game I wanted to get some momentum back and hitting my targets. Thankfully the gap wasn’t quite big enough and I was able to claw it back.
“I wanted to get in a good headspace if we went to a fifth game and that’s what I’ve improved at and worked hard at over the years.
“I’ve played Joelle a lot over the years and we’ve had some absolute monster battles. She’s been playing incredibly well and won a few titles recently. She’s been playing amazing and I’ll just be trying to focus on what I can do, I’ll bring my best squash and see what happens.”
Result
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Lisa Aitken (SCO) 3-1: 11-8, 11-5, 3-11, 11-9 (37m)
Asal Overcomes Elnawasany
World No.3 Mostafa Asal continued his attempts to add the Hong Kong Open to his growing trophy cabinet as he recorded an 12-10, 11-3, 11-9 victory over fellow Egyptian Yahya Elnawasany.
Asal, known on tour as ‘The Raging Bull’ took a while to really hit his stride following a fine start to the fixture by his opponent. Elnawasany attacked superbly on the backhand side but was unable to capitalise on a 10-8 led, with an unforced error handing the initiative back to Asal, who rattled off four straight points to establish a one-game lead.
The second and third games saw Asal at his best though as he unleashed a series of devastating winners – including one sensational one between his legs – to take the second and go 10-2 up in the third.
A superb fightback from Elnawasany saw him come back to within a point, but Asal responded with a beautiful drop to deliver a killer blow.
Asal’s reward is a last eight meeting with either Frenchman Victor Crouin or compatriot Aly Abou Eleinen.
“I’ve been here two times, once in my junior career and the other in my professional career,” said Asal.
“The last time I came here in 2018, I was only on the reserve list and I was chopped 3-0 in 20 minutes and then went back home. But I’m happy to be here and Yahya is one of the most talented players on tour. We’re a similar age and we’ve played lots of tournaments as a junior, so there is definitely pressure.
“I was telling everyone that my generation are entering the tounaments, reaching third rounds and getting towards the top spots. I’m really happy for him to be here at this stage in a Platinum event.
“I know it’s the last time we’ll play on this glass court and we’re going to move to another venue. This court is so cold and it’s tough to adapt. I’ve played here at under 15 level in the Hong Kong Junior Open final, so there was a lot of emotion here today.
“I was 10-2 up and it felt like I was remembering lots of things from when we were a junior and it’s actually tense and a new feeling on tour. I’m glad I managed to win the match this way.”
Result
[4] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) 3-0: 12-10, 11-3, 11-9 (34m)
Crouin Edges Eleinen in Tight Contest
Frenchman Victor Crouin progressed into the quarter-finals of the Hong Kong Open for the first time after he navigated a tricky encounter with World No.43 Aly Abou Eleinen.
It was a real scrap for the World No.10 as Eleinen put in a tenacious performance combined with an array of attacking squash that made life difficult for Crouin.
It was the Egyptian player who started on the front foot, stepping up the court and getting on the ball early to play winners into the front corners.
After falling a game behind, Crouin was able to fight his way back into the match, taking the next two games. A gripping fourth-game tie-break saw both players hold match balls, with Eleinen eventually prevailing to set up a decider.
The effort put in by Eleinen clearly took its toll though in the fifth game, with the Egyptian barely able to run at times as he looked to be struggling with cramp. His body essentially gave out as Crouin ran away with the game to book his spot into the quarter-finals after a tough 77-minute battle.
No.3 seed Mostafa Asal awaits the Frenchman.
“It was really tough,” Crouin said afterwards.
“I had a game plan in place because we played at the French Open a few months ago, and it went my way pretty comfortably. So I had a game plan in place and I had to change everything after a couple points in the first game, it took me a while to settle in and also tough conditions the court is very fast and dead.
“It was a tough match, I’m relieved I got the win as an opportunity to make it to my first quarter final here in Hong Kong, so I’m really proud.”
Result
[7] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 3-2: 6-11, 11-9, 11-3, 13-15, 11-2 (76m)
Gilis Wraps Up Quarter-Final Spot In Straight Sets
Nele Gilis sealed her place in the quarter-finals in just 30 minutes as she overcame Yathreb Adel in the third round.
Gilis, who recently became the first female Belgian player to reach the top 10 of the PSA World rankings, wasted no time in progressing to the quarter-finals as she wrapped up her first two games in eight and seven minutes, winning them 11-8 and 11-3.
The Belgian continued to dominate on court against the Egyptian as she secured a last eight spot in the third game, clinching it 11-8.
Tsz-Wing Tong or Nour El Sherbini await for Gilis in the quarter-finals on Friday.
“I’m very happy with how the match went. Me and Yathreb have played all through Juniors. She chopped me every single time,” said Gilis.
“So to get the win today in three is a very good result. I always had to stay focused because she’s one of the most talented players on tour. So I’m very happy that I managed to stay focused and finish that in three.
“It was a complete surprise (reaching the top 10 of the PSA World Rankings). I actually expected to go to 11. So when I casually went to check the rankings and to see that I was stunned, I was so happy and I burst into tears immediately.
“I feel like these last few months of playing lots of matches and getting lots of experience have definitely helped and I can feel myself improving and getting stronger physically and mentally.”
Result
Nele Gilis (BEL) bt Yathreb Adel (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-3, 11-8 (30m)
Clinical ElSherbini Progresses To Last Eight
Nour ElSherbini ruthlessly put home favourite Tsz-Wing Tong to the sword to reach the quarter-finals.
The tournament’s No.2 seed was on the front foot from the off, taking the first game 11-1 with a clinical performance.
Tong battled back in the second, but El Sherbini proved to be too strong to double her advantage with an 11-7 triumph before rounding off the match 11-5 in the third inside 23 minutes.
“It was definitely better than my first round,” said El Sherbini.
“I think I played better. I wanted to get my confidence back and play well.
“I was trying to be relaxed and confident. Sometimes you need a tough match to get you back on the move and wake you up a little bit. The first round helped motivate me and make be play better today.
“Tong had the home crowd after her, so I had to be more motivated to win.
“She’s [Gilis] been in amazing form, she just won the Malaysian Open. It’s been a while since I played her, but I’m looking forward to it. The head-to-head [record] is an advantage for me and I’m looking forward to it.”
Result
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) 3-0: 11-1, 11-7, 11-5 (23m)
ElShorbagy Advances In Four
Marwan ElShorbagy will either face Hong Kong’s Tsz Kwan Lau or New Zealand No.1 Paul Coll in the quarter-finals after seeing off Sebastien Bonmalais in four.
ElShorbagy looked on course to sealing his spot in the next round of the tournament after taking game one 11-6 and following that up with an 11-8 victory in the second.
However Bonmalais fought back in the third, winning 11-5, as he used his speed to his advantage to half the deficit.
But the pinpoint accuracy of ElShorbagy and errors from Bonmalais were pivotal, which saw the Egyptian advance to the last eight with a comfortable 11-1 win in the fourth game.
“I’m very happy with the way I played today,” said ElShorbagy.
“Sebastien is a very good player and we played in Dutch league a few weeks ago and he was able to get the win, so I knew how dangerous this match would be. I was very focused from the very first point but in the third game I lost a bit of concentration. Any chance you give him, you know he is going to take it.
“He was really solid throughout. I had to win the points, he didn’t give me anything, so I’m really happy to contain him. It’s a tricky court as well, so I’m pleased with my overall performance.
“I just restarted again [in the fourth]. It was pretty close in the third, it was 5-5 and then he won four or five points in a row. If you lose your concentration, you can lose a few points. I’m happy with the way I came back in that fourth game.”
Result
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) 3-1: 11-6, 11-8, 5-11, 11-1 (43m)
Coll Defeats Home Favourite
World No.2 Paul Coll extinguished the hopes of home favourite and World No.64 Tsz Kwan Lau after seeing him off in four games.
With the crowd behind him, Lau’s attacking prowess came to the fore as he eventually defeated Coll 14-12 in the opening game to take the lead.
But Coll battled back in the second to level proceedings and, despite being unable to close the game out at the first attempt with five game balls, a stroke in his favour saw him take the game 11-6 to make it 1-1.
Errors starting to creep into Lau’s game which Coll swooped on to take a 2-1 lead, clinching game three 11-5, before sealing his place in the last eight with an 11-6 win in the fourth.
The New Zealand No.1 will meet Marwan ElShorbagy in the next round tomorrow.
“I’m getting sick of playing the local heroes who want to play awesome against me,” said Coll.
“He came out of the blocks super quick and maybe I was a fraction short on my lengths. It was a bit annoying that I couldn’t squeeze the first at the end there, it was a tie-break situation and I normally back myself there. I knew I had to get it a bit deeper because anything half court was going in with quality.
“I knew I had to get my balls a little bit deeper and tighter and I was pretty confident after a second. He came out playing at a million miles an hour, it was a tricky one.
“It’s a lot more fun [to play in front of home fans]. He’s had all his family and friends here and they were cheering for him. It’s more enjoyable and you’re more familiar with the court and your surroundings.
“It can either relax you or make you more tense. It obviously relaxed him today and it looked like he was enjoying it out there. It’s great to see these young guys coming through and enjoying their squash in front of their home crowd, it’s great we’ve got Hong Kong back on.
“It’s another tough battle [against ElShorbagy], he always brings his quality and when he’s on he’s one of the best length hitters in the world. It’s going to be a battle for that ’T’ position. It looks like he’s got his mojo back this season, so it’s going to be tricky, but I’m feeling good mentally and physically, so I’m excited.”
Result
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG) 3-1: 12-14, 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (49m)
