Egyptian Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry celebrated his 20th birthday in the best possible style when he upset an opponent ranked 12 places higher to claim the sixth PSA World Tour squash title of his career at the Hamoco Houston Open in the US state of Texas.
The No.2 seed from Cairo reached the final of the PSA Challenger 15 event at the Life Time Athletic City Center in Houston without dropping a game.
But Stephen Coppinger, the top seed from South Africa, was tested in his semi-final where he was taken to four games by fourth seed Campbell Grayson before seeing off the New Zealander 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9.
After dropping the opening game in the final, 29-year-old Coppinger – ranked 23 in the world – drew level when he took the second game.
But birthday boy Ga Sabry regained control of the contest, pulling ahead after the third game then clinching the fourth to earn his shock 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7 title triumph.
“Mazen produced his best squash of the event in the final by beating Coppinger in 59 minutes,” said tournament promoter Andre Maur (pictured above, flanked by Ga Sabry, right, and Coppinger)
Final:
[2] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt [1] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7 (59m)
Semi-finals:
[1] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [4] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-7, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9
[2] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt [3] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-4, 11-6, 12-10
Quarter-finals:
[1] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt [8] Christopher Gordon (USA) 11-3, 11-7, 11-9
[4] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [5] Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-4, 12-10, 11-2
[3] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [6] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 12-10, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9
[2] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt [Q] Diego Elias (PER) 11-9, 11-2, 12-10
1st round:
[1] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Lucas Serme (FRA) 11-6, 11-5, 11-3
[8] Christopher Gordon (USA) bt [Q] Zac Alexander (AUS) 11-13, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8
[5] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [Q] Todd Harrity (USA) 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 11-6
[4] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt [Q] Shahjahan Khan (PAK) 11-3, 11-5, 11-2
[3] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [WC] Joshua Masters (ENG) 11-8, 11-7, 11-9
[6] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Matthew Karwalski (AUS) 11-4, 11-3, 11-9
[Q] Diego Elias (PER) bt [7] Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5
[2] Mazen Hesham Ga Sabry (EGY) bt Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) 11-6, 12-10, 11-8
Qualifying finals:
Shahjahan Khan (PAK) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 11-2, 11-5, 11-6
Diego Elias (PER) bt Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 11-6, 11-8, 11-2
Todd Harrity (USA) bt Yasir Ali Butt (PAK) 11-6, 5-11, 11-7, 11-0
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Aqib Hanif (PAK) 11-6, 11-7, 11-5
1st qualifying round:
Shahjahan Khan (PAK) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 3-11, 11-6, 5-11, 13-11, 14-12
Fred Reid (CAN) bt Jahanzeb Khan (PAK) 13-11, 11-6, 11-3
Karim El Hammamy (EGY) bt Reiko Peter (SUI) 7-11, 2-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7
Diego Elias (PER) bt Andrew Schnell (CAN) 11-6, 5-11, 6-11, 11-4, 11-8
Yasir Ali Butt (PAK) bt Muhammad Sadiq (USA) 14-12, 11-8, 12-10
Todd Harrity (USA) bt Christopher Binnie (JAM) 11-3, 11-4, 11-6
Aqib Hanif (PAK) bt Chris Hanson (USA) 11-9, 11-7, 11-4
Zac Alexander (AUS) bt Graeme Schnell (CAN) 11-7, 6-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-4
