Windy City Open RD2: Coll Ousts Ibrahim in Repeat of 2022 Final

Defending champion Paul Coll got the better of unseeded Egyptian Youssef Ibrahim in a repeat of the 2022 Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family final this evening, earning a 3-0 win to reach round three at the University Club of Chicago.

World No.3 Coll became the first New Zealander to win the Windy City Open when he came back from two games down to overcome Ibrahim after 96-minutes of epic action here two years ago.

Tonight saw the pair meet for the second time this season after Coll’s 3-0 win in the U.S. Open third round in October, which was his fifth victory in as many games against the World No.17.

It was a controlled, dominant performance from Coll, who dictated the tempo of the match and didn’t allow Ibrahim to showcase his extensive shot-making abilities as he ran out an 11-8, 11-2, 11-9 winner.

“I felt good out there, I’ve got my head right this week and I feel good with the way I want to play,” Coll said afterwards.

“I always love coming to Chicago, I love this court with the chandeliers and everything, and I love how close the crowd is, it’s awesome. I have good vibes and hopefully we can keep the performances going this week.

“These are the biggest tournaments of the year and these are the ones you want to win. I try to come into these ready for a long week and you’ve got to beat so many tough players now the tour is so strong. We played in the final two years ago and now in the first round here, so that’s why I like to come here with a clear mind.”

Coll will line up against Frenchman Baptiste Masotti in the last 16, with Masotti halting USA’s Todd Harrity in straight games.

World No.2 Diego Elias also got his title challenge under way after he dispatched fellow South American Leandro Romiglio in straight games under the chandeliers of the University Club’s Cathedral Hall.

The Peruvian, who completed an 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 win over World No.36 Romiglio, will go up against England’s Adrian Waller as he targets a place in the quarter-finals.

Elias said: “Leandro and I have known each other for so many years.

“I think I was about eight or nine when I met him at the South American Junior Open and we became really good friends, we’ve trained together a lot. I’m very happy to see him at these big tournaments and hopefully I can keep playing him.

“I’m really hungry this year and I’ve had a couple of good tournaments, but I want to win a few more titles.”

Up on floor 11, where the matches on the ‘traditional’ plaster courts took place, Colombian veteran Miguel Rodriguez ended the challenge of men’s US No.1 Timothy Brownell, coming back from a game down to win in four. World No.5 Karim Abdel Gawad also had to come from behind as he beat England’s Nathan Lake 3-1.

In the women’s draw, reigning champion Nouran Gohar also began her title defence this evening as she completed a comfortable 3-0 win against 17-year-old compatriot Fayrouz Aboelkheir on the glass court.

The Egyptian No.2 seed will come up against another countrywoman, Salma Hany, in the third round.

“It’s a very special place for me here at the Windy City Open,” Gohar said.

“The crowd makes it very warm and special. It can get very tough and lonely on tour, so to have the crowd watching us every single match and appreciating what we’re doing means so much to all players, and for me personally it makes a huge difference. I always look forward to coming back to this court that I love and I have great memories here, I’m really enjoying myself.

“I’ve had some lessons before from the likes of Raneem [El Welily], Laura [Massaro] and people like that, so I know how it feels. When you’re a youngster on tour you have the hunger, the momentum and you have nothing to lose, I always say that’s the best moment of your life. Fayrouz isn’t up and coming, she’s already there in the top 20, and there are a lot of very good players.

“It feels weird but right now I’m one of the oldest on tour, before I was the youngest. I’m very happy and pleased with the way I played, I wanted to hit my targets as soon as possible.”

2022 runner-up Hania El Hammamy also advanced to the last 16 after resisting the challenge of Zeina Mickawy, winning 11-7, 12-10, 11-9 in 39 minutes. Up next for El Hammamy is World No.10 Rowan Elaraby, who beat Malak Khafagy in four games.

“Playing Zeina is always challenging, we’ve played together a lot in the juniors, so we know each other’s games well,” said El Hammamy.

“You can see we were reading each other and she was picking up a lot of balls, so I’m definitely pleased to get through.

“I’ve been a finalist before here two years ago. It’s a special tournament and I always enjoy coming back here to Chicago. I just want to perform well in each round, I’m not thinking about the title, and if I bring my best performances then hopefully I can do it.

“Just like Zeina, we [El Hammamy and Elaraby] have played each other so many times in the juniors and the professional tour as well, so we know what to expect. She’s been playing really well the last couple of months and she’s had some big results lately. She’ll be up for it and I’m definitely excited for it too.”

Elsewhere, US No.2 Olivia Weaver defeated Hong Kong’s Tomato Ho, while 16-year-old Egyptian sensation Amina Orfi began her event with a 3-1 win against Nada Abbas.

Round three of the Windy City Open begins tomorrow (Friday February 23), with the action getting underway from 12:00 (GMT-6). All eight matches will be broadcast on SQUASHTV.

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Results – Men’s Second Round (Evening Session): 2024 Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family

[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-2, 11-9 (50m)

Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt Todd Harrity (USA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (36m)

Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 3-0: 17-15, 11-5, 11-5 (53m)

[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 3-1: 5-11, 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 (34m)

[5] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Rory Stewart (SCO) w/o

Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt Curtis Malik (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-6 (42m)

Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-7, 5-1 retired (28m)

[2] Diego Elias (PER) bt Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 (31m)

Results – Women’s Second Round (Evening Session): 2024 Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family

[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 12-10, 11-9 (39m)

Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt Malak Khafagy (EGY) 3-1: 8-11, 11-0, 11-2, 11-6 (35m)

Melissa Alves (FRA) bt Hollie Naughton (CAN) 3-1: 11-1, 8-11, 11-5, 12-10 (55m)

[7] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt Emily Whitlock (WAL) 3-0: 13-11, 11-8, 11-0 (38m)

[8] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Tomato Ho (HKG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (33m)

Amina Orfi (EGY) bt Nada Abbas (EGY) 3-1: 11-6, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7 (60m)

Salma Hany (EGY) bt Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (29m)

[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-5 (32m)