SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open 2024: Day Three Player Reaction

Round two of the SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open continues today with the bottom half of the draw in action.

All eight matches will be played on the glass court at Kinetic Indoor Racquet Club, and you can watch live on SQUASHTV from 12:00 (GMT-5).

We will have post-match reaction from today’s winners below as they bid to earn a place in the quarter-finals.

Order of Play

Amina Orfi set up a mouthwatering quarter-final matchup with Hania El Hammamy, beating Kenzy Ayman in the final encounter of day three. 

16-year-old Orfi enjoyed a remarkable year in 2023, rising to a career-high ranking No.16 in the world, and kicked of 2024 in style, taking just 24 minutes to see off her compatriot 3-0. 

The final score read 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 and reflected her dominance, with Ayman’s front-court backhand falling short on match ball to wrap up proceedings. 

“I’m very happy, I think I played very well today,” she said following the match. 

“After a month off from playing tournaments, I was a bit nervous, but I made sure to focus on the things I worked on over the past month, and I think that went well. 

It’s very important [to win in three] because it’s my first time playing this amount of matches in a year, so if there’s an opportunity to shorten the match then I have to take it, and with these tournaments being week after week, one after the other, it’s very important to do that. 

Orfi’s win set up a meeting with No.3 seed El Hammamy, in a rematch of their dramatic encounter at last season’s PSA World Championships, which El Hammamy won 3-2. 

Speaking on that rematch, Orfi added: “I’m really looking forward to that. Last time we played it was a good match and I enjoyed playing it so this time I’m just going focus on my squash and hopefully I can convert it.”

Result: [6] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt Kenzy Ayman (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 (24m)

Bonmalais Produces Career-Best Performance to Knock Out Rodriguez

Sebastien Bonmalais produced a career-best performance to reach the quarter-finals in Florida, denying Miguel Rodriguez a win at his home club. 

Rodriguez came into the meeting as the No.7 seed and therefore the favourite, but was no match for the flying Frenchman, who followed up an impressive round-one victory over Karim El Hammamy with an outstanding display in round two. 

The Colombian was wowing the home crowd with his trademark flamboyant style early on, but it would prove to be fruitless as the relentless Bonmalais closed out the game 11-6. 

He then had to come from behind to win the second on a tie break, but that would prove to be decisive, as game three ended up being a one-sided affair. 

Bonmalais dominated almost every point as he pulled Rodriguez from corner to corner, closing the door with a vicious backhand boast to end a breathtaking minute-long rally on match ball. 

Speaking off court after victory, Bonmalais put the performance at the very top of his own personal match rankings. 

“I think it’s the best match I’ve had in my career,” he said. 

“I’m happy to win, Miguel is very strong and very dangerous. I usually struggle to play him because he’s fast and I don’t like people who are fast like me, but I managed to slow down the pace and focus on my shots being very tight.” 

Bonmalais is playing his first event since suffering a hamstring tear in November, and paid tribute to his physical trainers for getting him back on court in such good shape. 

“For that I can thank my physio and my fitness coach who gave me a good programme to get back as soon as possible,” he said. 

“Even right after my injury, I didn’t stop. I was training more than I was before, so I think that’s why I’ve recovered so fast and that’s why I can play like this today.” 

Result: Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt [7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 3-0: 11-6, 12-10, 11-2 (39m)

El Hammamy Downs Aboulmakarim in All-Egyptian Affair

Hania El Hammamy kicked off her quest for glory in the first event of 2024 with a win, beating fellow Egyptian Nour Aboulmakarim 3-1. 

The World No.3 look in complete control as she raced into a 2-0 lead, but lost her way in game three, as her young opponent capitalised on some lose shots to keep her hopes alive. 

But El Hammamy regained her focus in game four, dropping only two points in the game to ensure there would be no fairytale fightback for Aboulmakarim. 

“It was a very challenging first round for the beginning of the year,” El Hammamy said after her win. 

“I’ve never played against Nour on the professional tour. Last time I played against her was two or three years ago in a match for university, so I really didn’t know what to expect. 

“I think I was playing ok and then for some reason I lost a little bit of focus, and she fired things at me, but overall, I’m very happy and looking forward to the rest of the tournament. 

“I tried to reset after the third and I tried to wake myself up a little bit. It felt like I was losing my focus, I was a little bit soft and passive, but I just think that I just had to be more alert and that made the difference for sure.” 

Result: [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 3-1: 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 11-2 (36m)

Ruthless Asal Dominates Cardenas to Open Evening Session

Mostafa Asal produced a dominant display to book his place in the quarter-finals, beating Leonel Cardenas 3-0. 

The Raging Bull is the No.2 seed for this event and showed exactly why, dropping just 10 points across the match. 

He saved his best for last, too, losing only two points in a ruthless final game, and was pleased to have got through against a player he knows well. 

“It was an amazing match,” he said. 

“First match of the year, I didn’t want to lose the first match of the year, but Leo’s playing sharp. He’s been a good player since juniors and we played a lot in juniors, so it’s a kind of different pressure you have, but I’m glad that I got through.”

Result: [2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Leonel Cardenas (MEX) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-2 (38m)

Gohar Wins in Style on Return to Action 

Nouran Gohar made an emphatic return to action following a lengthy injury layoff, beating fellow Egyptian Zeina Mickawy 3-0 in the final match of the afternoon session. 

Gohar’s last action came in the QTerminals Qatar Classic in September, but she looked at her imperious best in her comeback match, taking just 27 minutes to book her spot in the last eight. 

Games one and two were comfortable for the World No.2, but it was her performance in game three that will have put her competitors on notice, with Gohar recording a bagel to complete the victory. 

“It feels great,” she said moments after the result. 

 “Obviously, it takes you a while to get used to the court and the movements. Even if you’re training, it’s completely different to a tournament and it has been almost six months, so it’s been quite a long time but I’m glad to be back for sure.” 

Speaking about the process she went through to get back to this stage, Gohar added: “It’s funny, I was literally learning how to walk again, it felt so weird to not be able to walk for a while.  

“I was tying my shoes and not able to take two steps in a row and I was in so much pain as well for so long as well, so to be pain free is an absolute pleasure. And I just think it can get better, that’s the good part, that’s the positive about it, I can see myself improving every single day. 

Discussing the 11-0 scoreline in game three, the Egyptian revealed that she was solely focused on playing good squash. 

“I was just trying to find my range again, find my weight of shots and feeling comfortable on court,” she said. 

“I was just in the zone, not really thinking about the score to be honest, I was just thinking about where I’m hitting the ball. I’m glad that I was improving every single day and I’m hoping that I can improve every single match as well.” 

Result: [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 11-0 (27m)

ElShorbagy Overcomes Tough Test from Compatriot Lake

Mohamed ElShorbagy came out on top of an all-English clash with Nathan Lake, setting up a quarter-final meeting with Gregoire Marche. 

The No.3 seed raced out of the blocks and took the first game 11-7, playing at a fast pace and high up the T, and was soon in control of the second too. 

But from 8-2 up, ElShorbagy suddenly found himself a game ball down at 10-9, having to rally before winning the tie break 12-10. 

He then faced three game balls at 10-7 down in the third, but as has so often been the case over the years, the Englishman showed mental strength when he needed it most, winning the next five points to wrap up the victory. 

“I started the first game strong, and he was a bit slow at the start,” he said. 

“Then in the second game I was 8-2 up then found myself 10-9 down, and the third game I started the game down 3-0 within a few seconds, but things like this can happen at the start of the tournament. It was my first match in a while too, so the focus can be up and down sometimes, and it gets better as the tournament progresses. 

“But even if I lost a bit of focus, it’s still not easy to win these points. He’s quality player and he showed that quality and took his chances whenever I had a bit of a drop in focus.  

“But at the end of the day, I’m happy to win in three. I was a game ball down in the second and I found myself playing catchup in the third, but these things are good for the tournament, they sharpen you mentally and I’m glad I won at the end.” 

“We used to be training partners because we lived 20 or 30 minutes away from each other in Bristol, so we’ve known each other very well for a very long time. Funnily enough, this is the first time we’ve met on tour so it’s great that we finally played, and I wish him the best for the rest of the season.” 

Result: [3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 12-10, 12-10 (31m)

Mohamed Battles Past Ho on Return from Injury

Farida Mohamed battled past Tomato Ho to book her place in the SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open, winning 3-1 in 32 minutes. 

The Egyptian took the opener 11-6 and despite being pegged back in the second, looked as though she had taken control of proceedings in a dominant third game, which she won 11-2. 

As she had done in the second, though, Ho responded well, giving herself four game balls to send the match into a decider at 10-6, but was unable to convert any of the four, with Mohamed reeling off six points on the bounce to clinch victory. 

Speaking to Amanda Sobhy on court after victory, Mohamed revealed she was happy to be back on tour, even if she wasn’t quite back to her best. 

“I’m definitely not very happy with my performance, but I haven’t played in around two months, so it’s kind of a mini offseason for me,” she said. 

“The nerves were bad and I’ve been injured, so I’m just happy to be here today, pain free, and I’m feeling better mentally and more settled in my life outside of squash, so I’m feeling good. 

“I wasn’t really off court [during the injury] because I didn’t listen to the doctors that much, but it was kind of an infection in my foot so I’m glad I’m feeling fit now. I didn’t know if I’d be ready for this one, so I’m really glad to be here today.”

Result: [8] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt Tomato Ho (HKG) 3-1: 11-6, 8-11, 11-2, 12-10 (32m)

Marche Wins Intense Thriller to Knock Out No.8 Seed ElSherbini

Greg Marche came through another five-game thriller to knock out No.8 seed Mohamed ElSherbini in round two. 

The Frenchman had gone the distance in his round-one win over Cesar Salazar two days ago, and his round-two win followed a similar tale, taking close to 90 minutes in total. 

After losing game one 11-9, Marche turned the momentum in his favour by winning the next two as ElSherbini’s error count crept up, with the Frenchman’s backhand proving to be particularly effective. 

Back came the Egyptian to win game four, but Marche showed plenty of the resilience that has underpinned his career, getting an early lead in the decider, which he eventually won on a stroke following a video review. 

“That was intense,” he said after his win. 

“I didn’t start very well, I didn’t feel confident in my shots in the first two games. I just wanted to find some feeling in my racket, because I felt like every time I went short it wasn’t really accurate, so I just had to dig deep in my length to give myself the opportunity to go for it first of all, and I managed to do that much better in the third.” 

“In the fourth, I lost a bit of concentration at the beginning and I was always behind, so I just wanted to fight for the fifth, and luckily I started well and managed to close it out.” 

Result: Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt [8] Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) 3-2: 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 11-8 (83m)