South Western Open: Story of 2022

With the 2023 South Western Open Presented by Cotidié just around the corner, we’re taking a look back at the 2022 Gold-level event, which saw Nouran Gohar capture the title at the Houston Squash Club.

Last year’s finalist and World No.8 Nour El Tayeb tops the draw this year, with America’s Amanda Sobhy and Olivia Fiechter seeded No.2 and No.3, respectively.

The 2023 South Western Open will take place between September 27 – October 1, with the event broadcast live on SQUASHTV.

You can also keep up to date with all the action by visiting the PSA World Tour website or following the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

In the build-up to the tournament in Houston, we’re reflecting on the main talking points from last year’s event.

Round One

Hong Kong’s Ka Yi Lee caused the only major upset in round one as she overcame compatriot Tomato Ho in five games to secure a spot in the last-16 and a clash against No.1 seed Nouran Gohar.

Elsewhere, Egyptian quartet Hana Ramadan, Nadine Shahin, Mariam Metwally and Sana Ibrahim all claimed victories, with the latter fighting back from two games down to defeat USA’s Haley Mendez.

Jasmine Hutton came out on top in the battle of the Brits as she defeated Lucy Beecroft in four games, while the home support were treated to a victory from the USA’s Sabrina Sobhy over Emilia Soini.

Round Two

The top-seeded players entered the fray in round two, with all eight of the highest-ranked women progressing through to the quarter-finals without fail.

Gohar started off her 2022-23 campaign in classic Gohar style, with the World No.1 showing no mercy as she eased past Ka Yi Lee 11-4, 11-2, 11-3 in just under 20 minutes.

Elsewhere in the draw, No.2 seed Amanda Sobhy, Egypt’s Nour El Tayeb, No.4 seed Georgina Kennedy and the USA’s Olivia Fiechter all progressed in straight games.

Wales’ Emily Whitlock had to be at her best to battle past Egypt’s Ibrahim in five games and 60 minutes of action, while No.5 seed Salma Hany edged a marathon 73-minute thriller against Egypt’s Shahin to progress to the last-eight.

Quarter-finals

Home favourite Sobhy continued her fine form in Houston as she came out on top against the dangerous Egyptian 5th seed Hany.

Despite Hany bursting out of the blocks and taking the first game 11-8, Sobhy kept her composure and added a clinical edge to her game as the match progressed, winning the next three games 11-2, 11-7, 11-4, to book her place in the semi-finals in 42 minutes.

Elsewhere it was the Egyptian players who dominated the round’s play, with No.1 seed Gohar despatching USA No.2 Fiechter in straight games and No.3 seed Rowan Elaraby seeing off the threat of Welshwoman Whitlock 11-2, 11-7, 11-5 in 37 minutes.

No.7 seed El Tayeb also progressed to the last four after England’s Kennedy withdrew from their quarter-final bout due to injury. The Egyptian was only on court for 16 minutes before the match was brought to an unfortunate ending, with the score at 11-9, 8-2 to El Tayeb.

Semi-finals

World No.8 El Tayeb downed No.2 seed Sobhy in the South Western semi-finals to set up an enticing final against compatriot Gohar in Houston.

On rested legs after a quarter-final that had lasted just 16 minutes, El Tayeb was the sharper of the two players, looking focused from the outset of the match and firing the ball into the front corners of the court with ease.

The Egyptian took the first game 11-8, but spurred on by her home support, Sobhy bounced back in style to take the second 11-9. As the pressure of the match mounted, so did the quality, with both players putting on a show for those in attendance.

A tight third game was won by El Tayeb 12-10 before Sobhy once again brought proceedings level by claiming the fourth. However, the fresher legs of El Tayeb proved crucial, with the Egyptian eventually able to book her spot in the final after 63 minutes of action-packed squash.

In the second semi-final, it was Gohar who progressed, but the No.1 seed did not have it all her own way against compatriot Rowan Elaraby in a feisty affair.

Despite ‘The Terminator’ holding a 4-0 head-to-head record against Elaraby prior to the match, it was the younger Egyptian who showed no signs of nerves to storm through the opening game 11-8.

Gohar showed good composure to weather the onslaught of attacking squash and take the second game before Elaraby closed out a scrappy third – which included numerous interactions with the referee – by a 12-10 scoreline.

However, it was Gohar who showed her class in the fourth and fifth games, capitalising on a physically spent Elaraby to win both by a scoreline of 11-4 and reach her 33rd PSA World Tour final.

Final

The all-Egyptian final between Gohar and El Tayeb started with great quality as the hard-hitting style of the No.1 seed was countered by the skill and touch of the latter.

Despite saving a game ball and going toe-to-toe for the entirety of the opener, El Tayeb was edged out 12-10 by her opponent.

The relentless pressure that ‘The Terminator’ exerted continued to cause problems for El Tayeb in the second game, with the pressure at the back of the court beginning to take its toll on the No.7 seed.

Gohar subsequently captured the second game 11-5, with the match continuing in a similar vein at the beginning of the third.

El Tayeb tried her best to keep the ball moving through all four corners of the court to test the movement of her opponent, but this was ultimately to no avail, with Gohar taking the third and final game 11-7.

The No.1 seed took home the first PSA Gold event of the season – the first of six titles in her 2022/23 campaign.