Rodriguez and Ibrahim Shock Seeds to Reach Black Ball Squash Open 2024 Quarter-Finals

Miguel Rodriguez and Youssef Ibrahim claimed seeding scalps on day two of the Black Ball Squash Open 2024, defeating No.5 seed Tarek Momen and No.6 seed Joel Makin to progress to the quarter-finals.

Rodriguez, 38, claimed his first victory over Momen since the 2017 World Championships, fighting off an impressive comeback from the Egyptian to win in five games at the PSA World Tour Gold event.

The match saw Rodriguez still without the majority of his equipment which he lost during his flight to Cairo, and also included it’s fair share of vintage entertainment, with the Colombian losing, picking up, and carrying one of his shoes for the entirety of one particular rally.

Despite Momen forcing a deciding game from 2-0 down, Rodriguez eventually came through the encounter in 81 minutes, booking a quarter-final date with World No.1 Ali Farag. 

“I came with no expectations,” Rodriguez said after the match. “I was not supposed to be in this tournament, I had many issues before coming here. But it was a fantastic performance from me, a terrific result. That was my main goal in this tournament and it was 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.”

Meanwhile, World No.17 Ibrahim was at his relentless best to defeat World No.10 Makin in four games. After losing an even 20-minute first game, Ibrahim turned the match in his favour, striking the perfect balance of patience and aggressive stroke-making on the all-glass court in the Black Ball Sporting Club. 

In the women’s draw, defending champion Nouran Gohar got her title defence underway with a straight games victory over Fayrouz Aboelkheir, while No.3 seed Nour El Tayeb also advanced to the last eight in three games.

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Results: Black Ball Squash Open 2024 Men’s RD2

Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt [6] Joel Makin (WAL) 3-1: 8-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 (72m)

Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt [5] Tarek Momen (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 11-6, 4-11, 6-11, 11-5 (81m)

[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Curtis Malik (ENG) 3-0: 12-10, 11-3, 11-7 (35m)

[4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 12-10 (28m)

Results: Black Ball Squash Open 2024 Women’s RD2

[3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-7, 11-5 (26m)

[6] Salma Hany (EGY) bt Salma Eltayeb (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-7 (33m)

[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 (31m)

[8] Nada Abbas (EGY) bt Mariam Metwally 3-0: 12-10, 11-5, 11-4 (31m)

Draw: Black Ball Squash Open 2024 Men’s RD2 (bottom half – to be played April 13th)   

[3] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)

Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) v [8] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 

[7] Victor Crouin (FRA) v Fares Dessouky (EGY)

Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [2] Mostafa Asal (EGY)

Draw: Black Ball Squash Open 2024 Women’s RD2 (bottom half – to be played April 13th)   

[4] Tinne Gilis (BEL) v Sana Ibrahim (EGY) 

Hana Ramadan (EGY) v [5] Rowan Elaraby (EGY)

[7] Amina Orfi (EGY) v Hana Moataz (EGY)

Melissa Alves (FRA) v [2] Olivia Weaver (USA)