Asal Returns To Defend Title At Houston Open 2024 

Egypt’s Mostafa Asal will return to defend his title at the HSC Houston Open presented by Champion Fiberglass, PSA World Tour Gold event, which will take place between February 13-18 at the Houston Squash Club, Texas. 

Asal, 22, defeated Mohamed ElShorbagy in last year’s final to capture the title, and will be looking to enjoy similar success when he returns as No.3 seed for the 2024 edition. ‘The Raging Bull’ is unlikely to have it all his own way, though, with England’s ElShorbagy named as the No.2 seed and 2022 champion Ali Farag topping the draw as the No.1 seed. Asal will open his account against one of Juan Camilo Vargas or David Baillargeon, while also sitting in the same quarter of the draw as No.5 seed Mazen Hesham. 

Elsewhere, in the same half of the draw, ElShorbagy will begin his campaign against either Scotland’s Rory Stewart or Mexico’s Cesar Salazar. ‘The Beast’, who is currently searching for the 50th title of his PSA Tour career, could face the ever-entertaining Miguel Rodriguez in the last eight if the event were to go to seedings.

Top seed and World No.1 Farag, whose wife Nour El Tayeb won the South Western Open at the Houston Squash Club earlier this season, has been in terrific form of late, claiming three titles this campaign, two of which were Platinum successes. After receiving a first-round bye, the Egyptian will square off against one of Farkas Balazs or Yahya Elnawasany in his opening match.

Further back in the seedings, there are a whole host of threats, including ‘The Baby-Faced Assassin’ Karim Abdel Gawad, who has been named as the No.4 seed. The 32-year-old has enjoyed a fruitful 2023/24 season thus far, winning back-to-back events at the Grasshopper Cup and the Ace Malaysia Cup and subsequently climbing up to World No.6. 

The top eight seeds are rounded out by former World Champion Tarek Momen, Colombia’s Rodriguez, and France’s Baptiste Masotti, while American representation arrives in the form of Timothy Brownell and Andrew Douglas. 

Action from the HSC Houston Open presented by Champion Fiberglass will be available to watch live on SQUASHTV, while more information can be found on the PSA World Tour website. You can also follow the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Draw: 

[1] Ali Farag (EGY) [bye] 

Farkas Balazs (HUN) v [9/16] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY)

[9/16] Ramit Tandon (IND) v Leung Chi Hin Henry (HKG)

[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) [bye]

[8] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) [bye]

Andrew Douglas (USA) v [9/16] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)

[9/16] Timothy Brownell (USA) v [WC] Muhammad Huzaifa Ibrahim (PAK)

[4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) [bye]

[3] Mostafa Asal (EGY) [bye]

Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) v [9/16] David Baillargeon (CAN)

[9/16] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) v Simon Herbert (ENG)

[5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) [bye]

[7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) [bye]

Charlie Lee (ENG) v [9/16] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA)

[9/16] Rory Stewart (SCO) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)

[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) [bye]