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Windy City Open 2024 presented by The Walter Family: Day Four Player Reaction
Round three of the Windy City Open 2024 presented by The Walter Family concludes today at the University Club of Chicago, with the remaining eight matches taking place.
All eight matches will be played on the glass court, and you can watch live on SQUASHTV from 12:00 (GMT-6).
We will have post-match reaction from today’s winners throughout the session below, as they bid to earn a place in the quarter-finals.
Order of Play
Crouin Outlasts Momen to Set Up Coll Rematch
Victor Crouin set up a rematch with familiar foe Paul Coll, upsetting Tarek Momen to complete the quarter-final line-up at the Windy City Open.
Coll is a two-time Platinum event winner this season, but the Frenchman got the better of him at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions last month, winning 3-0 in a clinical quarter-final performance.
They will now run it back at the same stage of this event in Chicago, after Crouin got past the experienced Momen 3-1 in the final match of round three.
Looking to make his youthful advantage count, Crouin used his speed across the court throughout game one, staying patient and composed to outlast Momen in the rallies.
He took game one on a stroke and decided not to take a seat between games, staying on his feet to keep the blood flowing.
The Frenchman continued to repel everything Momen threw at him in game two, barely making an error on his way to five game balls at 10-5, clinching it when Momen’s ambitious backhand drop from deep in the court fell short.
Momen took game three on a stroke to keep his hopes alive, but Crouin found his feet again at the start of game four, quickly establishing a 6-2 lead.
From there, the momentum swung one way and then the other, with Momen showing the fighting spirit that has underpinned his career.
Never was that more evident than at 10-5, when Momen faced five match balls yet kept battling to the end. He saved the first three with the help of the video referee, who overturned a no let to deny Crouin what he thought was the win, but a fourth would be one step too far.
The decision was once again sent to the video referee at 10-8, but this time Roy Gingell found in Crouin’s favour, giving a no let on a tight forehand drop to finally bring an end to the match.
“I’ve seen Tarek come back from so many matches when he was down and he still found a way,” Crouin said after his win.
“It was very inspiring because that was something I couldn’t do in the past and even today I had some headaches. Even though there were some missteps I still found a way, so I’m very proud of myself.
“I’ve watched Tarek since I started playing squash and watching the professional tour. I unconsciously analysed his game as a passionate fan of the sport. What he does is very unique, there isn’t anyone playing like Tarek on the tour, the volleys above the shoulder are some of the toughest shots to play in the game and he’s one of the best to play those shots.”
Result:
Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [8] Tarek Momen (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 11-8 (66m)
Gilis Eases Past Alves to Set Up El Hammamy Quarter-Final
Tinne Gilis eased past Melissa Alves to reach the last eight of the Windy City Open for the first time, beating the French player 3-0 in the penultimate match of round three.
The Belgian has reached the final of her last two events and will now take on World No.2 Hania El Hammamy for a spot in the semi-finals here in Chicago.
Despite the routine nature of her win, Gilis did not have it all her own way in the early stages, falling 5-1 behind in game one when Alves drilled a forehand smash into the nick.
From there, the World No.6 clawed her way back into the rallies, claiming eight of the next 10 points to move 9-7 up, closing out game one a few moments later.
Sitting courtside between games, with Grégory Gaultier in her corner, Gilis was noticeably frustrated with the way she’d played, but she cut a happier figure at the end of game two, winning it 11-5 with some much tidier squash.
Now full of confidence to start game three, Gilis charged out to a 6-0 lead, helped by some unforced errors from the Alves racket.
She soon had seven match balls after feathering a delicate forehand drop just an inch above the tin, drawing a gasp from the crowd and a nod of appreciation from her opponent.
Alves saved the first two, but a backhand down the line on the third did the job for Gilis, who praised her team when speaking after the match.
“I think it’s my first quarter-final here, so it means a lot to be in the quarter-finals,” she said.
“I’ve got a great team in my corner, they keep me going and I’m very happy with my performance today.
“It stings a little bit to reach four finals this season and lose all of them, but on the other side it keeps me motivated as well because I do want to win those tournaments and I do want to go further in every single one.”
Looking ahead to her quarter-final with El Hammamy, Gilis added: “It’s always a big battle with her and hopefully it will be another one on Monday. I’m going to give it my all and I’m excited for this one.”
Result:
[7] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt Melissa Alves (FRA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (30m)
Coll Continues Title Defence with Masotti Win
Defending men’s champion Paul Coll remained on course to reach a third straight final at the Windy City Open, beating Baptiste Masotti 3-0 in round three.
The Kiwi won this event by beating Youssef Ibrahim in the final two years ago, having lost to Ali Farag in the 2020 final, and few would bet against him going far once again after an accomplished win over the Frenchman.
He could hardly have asked for a better start to the match, winning the first four points in front of a packed Cathedral Hall at the University Club of Chicago.
Masotti fought back to prevent Coll running away with things, but the World No.3 kept him at arm’s length, winning game one 11-6 when Masotti hit the tin.
The first ‘Superman’ dive was on show early in game two, although it didn’t help Coll’s cause as he fell 5-1 behind, with a few errand balls popping out and opening the court for his opponent.
Those errand balls soon disappeared, though, as Coll began to find his targets deep in the court once again, winning eight of the next nine points to sit 9-6 ahead.
A couple of contentious stroke decisions allowed Masotti back within a point, but Coll slammed the door shut with a backhand volley kill and then a deep forehand winner.
Knowing that a fast start was crucial to his hopes of a comeback, Masotti smashed a forehand winner down the line on the second rally of game three – to the delight of the crowd – but Coll was unwavering in his relentless style, moving serenely to the brink of victory at 10-5.
With nothing to lose at five match balls down, the Frenchman went on the attack, saving the first two, but that would be as close as he got, tinning a backhand after a drawn-out rally on the third.
“Baptiste is a dangerous opponent and he can hit some outrageous winners,” the New Zealander said after his win.
“I had to avoid that middle area of the court and I did that at the end of each game. I’m very happy to get off in three, I’ve got a rest day tomorrow and I’m looking forward to the quarters on Monday.
“He was going balls out trying to hit winers from everywhere, so I had to stay up the court and put it away when it was there.”
Coll also discussed the reasons behind his recent change of racket style – having switched from a ‘teardrop’ style open throat to a closed throat head – as well as the dynamic between himself, Rod Martin and his coach in the UK, Rob Owen.
“The way I’m trying to play, it [the new racket] has a sweet spot for me and I’m trying to get the ball into the corners a bit more severely. This racket compliments what I’m trying to do. It’s a change, I’ve never used this sort of shape before, but HEAD was very happy to work with me to find a racket which suited me.
“Big thanks to them for sorting such a nice racket for me, and I’m looking forward to using it for the rest of the season.
“Rob [Owen] is my coach back home and he can’t travel to some of the tournaments like Rod [Martin] can. It works great for me, Rod’s my favourite ever squash player and Rob and I have done a lot of work over the last few years using Rod as an example of how I want to play. It’s a dream come true to have one of my favourite squash players coaching me at tournaments.
“A big thanks to Rob for getting me here and allowing me to work with Rod as well. It says a lot about Rob as a coach, he’s very happy for me to get advice off Rod and I think he really respects him and how he plays. For me, it’s a perfect combination, I’ve got a lot of energy and we’re constantly working on my game.”
Result:
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-8, 11-7 (51m)
El Hammamy Crushes Elaraby to Open Evening Session
Hania El Hammamy sent a message to the rest of the women’s field with a dominant win over Rowan Elaraby in an all-Egyptian third-round matchup.
Kicking off the evening session on day four, plenty inside the University Club of Chicago were expecting a thriller, with Elaraby coming into this tournament having played some of her best squash in recent weeks.
But the World No.2 had other ideas, dominating proceedings from the off, looking relaxed as she raced into a 4-0 lead in game one.
Elarabay did win the next four points to level the score but things went downhill from there for the World No.10, as El Hammamy won six points in a row to win the game 11-5.
Key to El Hammamy’s control in game one was her measured and patient approach, not wanting to attack too early in the rallies and only going short when on the front foot.
She continued that in game two, working all four corners to move one game from victory, drawing a rapturous round of applause from the crowd after crunching a backhand into the nick on a return of serve.
An exquisite backhand volley from deep in the court set the tone for another one-sided affair in game three, and El Hammamy did not have to wait long to complete her win, drilling a backhand winner into the back-right corner to take her second match ball.
“Playing against Rowan is extremely tough and challenging,” she said on court after the match.
“It can be very tricky, we have had a long history since the juniors and I had to be up for it from the first point to the last point. I had a game plan and I executed it very well today. I’m pleased with my performance and looking forward to the quarters.
“I’ve had a lot of lessons from her during juniors. I’ve moved on from them, but I carry those lessons on court with me when I play against her. Both of us are improving and we’re playing at another level compared to juniors.
“I’ve been missing these kinds of performances at the last couple of tournaments. Hopefully I can carry on at this level and I’m just focusing on the quarters in two days’ time.”
Result:
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt Rowan Elaraby (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-4 (34m)
Elias Dominates Waller to Book Meeting with Asal
Diego Elias set up a quarter-final showdown with Mostafa Asal by sweeping aside Adrian Waller 3-0 in round three.
The English lefty actually held the head-to-head advantage going into this match, winning two of their last three meetings – albeit with both of those wins coming more than four years ago – but this was largely one-way traffic.
It didn’t take long for the World No.2 to get quickly into his stride, needing only eight minutes to wrap up game one, the highlight of which was a brilliant forehand drop with an open racket face.
The Peruvian Puma produced a similar shot to win the opening point of game two and followed that with a backhand boast to end a brutal rally, with Waller already showing signs of fatigue after some brutal movements.
Elias continued to hit winners at will in both the front and back court, using some trademark holds to throw Waller off balance, and closed out game two with 11-2 another backhand drop.
As Samla Hany had done in her defeat to Nouran Gohar in the preceding match, Waller put up more of a fight in game three, drawing huge cheers from the crowd with a vicious forehand into the nick to make it 6-7.
The match continued to be played in good spirits with the players sharing a chuckle on several occasions, but it would be Elias who’d have the last laugh, securing the win on a Waller forehand into the tin.
“I think I played very well, the first two games were very good,” he said.
“I lost my concentration a little bit in the third, but I’m glad I could close it in three.
“I didn’t win a tournament this season until Detroit a couple of weeks ago. That gave me a lot of confidence. I’m feeling really good, I trained really well at the end of last year and at the start of this year, so hopefully I can win a Platinum soon.
Looking ahead to his meeting with Asal, he said: “It’s going to be a great match as always. It’s not when we usually play [in the quarter-finals], but I think it’s going to be a good match. Hopefully it’s going to be clean and everyone can enjoy it.”
Result:
[2] Diego Elias (PER) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-2, 11-8 (33m)
Ruthless Gohar Races into Quarter-Finals
Defending champion Nouran Gohar produced a clinical performance to book her spot in the last eight, beating fellow Egyptian Salma Hany 3-0 in just 30 minutes.
The World No.3 won this event when it was last held in 2022, and will have her sights set on going all the way once more after a ruthless round-three display.
Hany had impressed in recording a 3-0 win of her own over Sarah-Jane Perry in round two, but she was blown away by the 26-year-old here, particularly in the first two games.
It took just eight minutes for Gohar to claim the first, winning it 11-2 on a backhand out from Hany, who could not be accused of a lack of effort, sprawling across the court with an acrobatic dive midway through the game.
The second was a similar tale, lasting only eight minutes again, with Hany’s only real joy coming once the game was all but over.
Game three was more competitive, as Hany stuck with the No.2 seed to give herself a chance, hitting a well-placed forehand drop to help level at 9-9.
But as champions so often do, Gohar came up clutch when it mattered, bringing up match ball on a stroke before crushing a backhand winner cross court to secure the win in just half an hour.
“I don’t know why everyone keeps telling me I looked nervous [in round one], I wasn’t!” Gohar said on court, moments after victory.
“The first round is always tough for the nerves and you’re getting used to the court and conditions, they’re completely different from one tournament to another. I’ve been the hunter for so long, but now I’m always hunted. If I have a bad day it’s punished and everybody talks about it, there’s no mercy.
“There is pressure, but as Billie Jean King always says, pressure is privilege. I’m happy with the way I played, Salma and I go way back, we’ve been playing junior events since we were nine years old. I have a lot of respect for her, it was very clean today and very enjoyable.
“At ToC I was very close [to winning], one game away, and it was heartbreaking, to be honest. It was going to be like a fairytale coming back from injury and winning your first major, but everything happens for a reason and it’s in the past. I’m really enjoying myself here, I love it here in Chicago and it’s a pleasure to play in front of such an amazing crowd.
“I’m very grateful to play another quarter-final here and I’m looking forward to Monday’s match.”
Result:
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Salma Hany (EGY) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-9 (30m)
Asal Finally Begins Windy City Campaign with Bonmalais Win
Mostafa Asal put a slow start behind him to get his quest for glory underway, beating France’s Sebastien Bonmalais 3-1.
The two players had had contrasting weeks in getting to this stage, with Bonmalais having beaten fellow Frenchman Lucas Serme and then England’s Curtis Malik, while Asal was yet to play a point.
He’d had to settle for a hit with James Willstrop on the glass court when he should have been playing Rory Stewart, after the Scot had pulled out of their round-two encounter with illness.
Perhaps lacking some match sharpness, the Egyptian fell behind early on as Bonmalais played a patient first game, utilising his shot selection well.
A high backhand that went out from the Asal racket gave Bonmalais the game in just 11 minutes, but the Raging Bull responded in game two, opening up a 5-1 lead.
That followed a change in racket after just two points for the young Egyptian, who took the somewhat unusual step of taking a brand new one from the wrapper, but it didn’t seem to have a negative effect.
He clinched game two 11-5 and gave himself a 4-2 lead in game three before being forced off court for a second time, this time to have an injury looked at with blood trickling from his knee.
Asal returned to the court with a bandage more befitting of a knee reconstruction than a small cut, but the break didn’t appear to disrupt his momentum, as he won the next four rallies to open up a six-point gap.
He brought up six games balls with a forehand drive that sent Bonmalais the wrong way, and took the first of those six on a backhand volley cross court.
Finally finding his groove, Asal cruised through game four for the loss of just two points in only seven minutes, reaching the quarter-finals at the Windy City Open for the first time.
“When you start the tournament very late like this, it gets into your head that you need to play some matches and you need to adapt to the glass court,” he said.
“I want to say get well soon to Rory Stewart. It’s my first match and Sebastien is a quick player and in good form.
“The mornings aren’t good to me. I woke up at 10.30 and set a list of alarms. I’m happy to be through against a tricky opponent and I’m looking forward to my next match.
Discussing the cut to his leg, he added: “It [the blood] was flowing and I wanted to play. I tried to clean it with a towel but then it flowed again. It happened at the ToC too, maybe every tournament it’s going to be like this! It was a really good match, I adapted to the court and the atmosphere, and what an atmosphere it is.”
Result:
[5] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) 3-1: 7-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-2 (53m)
Weaver Masterclass Sinks Orfi to Delight Home Crowd
Olivia Weaver produced a masterful performance to beat Amina Orfi 3-0, opening day four in style at the Windy City Open.
Both players came into this encounter in good form, not only having won their round-two matches here, but also having lifted the title in their most recent respective events.
For Amina, that was her first World Tour title at the Squash On Fire Open, while Weaver had claimed back-to-back titles at the Bahl and Gaynor Cincinnati Gaynor Cup, and the DAC Pro Squash Classic.
Backed by the home crowd, it was the American who made the better start, moving well and looking relaxed on court, using the forehand to good effect to open up a 9-4 lead.
She brought up four game balls on a cross-court backhand winner but only needed one, with Orfi hitting the tin on a backhand of her own.
It was a similar story in game two, with the No.8 seed continuing to play some outstanding squash, dominating down the right-hand wall, hitting her ninth forehand winner of the match with a delicate drop shot to make it 9-4.
Another game ball soon followed and she wrapped up the second with aplomb, this time on the backhand, slamming a volley into the nick to continue her charge towards victory.
Orfi was not ready to give in, matching the American in the opening rallies of game three to get to 7-7, but Weaver was dialed in and determined to end it in three.
Another backhand into the nick gave Weaver an 8-7 lead, and while Orfi levelled once more, that was as good as things got for the young Egyptian, with Weaver hitting a forehand boast winner to take her first match ball at 10-8.
“I was really looking forward to the match. Amina has been playing great squash and had a big win in D.C.” said Weaver afterwards.
“She’s an up and comer and it’s incredibly impressive that she’s playing at this level at 17. I tried to put her age and her results out of my mind and I tried to focus on playing my best squash. I’m really pleased with how I maintained focus and got it done in three.
“I feel like when she gets momentum she runs away with it. She’s a momentum player, so it was really important for me to make it physical from the get-go. Physicality is one of my biggest strengths, and I really set the tone early on and let her know that it was going to be a really hard match.
“My game has really evolved in the last six months. I started working with Rod Martin this summer and I have an incredible team, there are so many people behind me. I’ve started to trust these changes that are coming into my game and I’m really learning how to utilise them and back myself out there.
“I’m playing with more confidence and I’m enjoying myself.”
Result:
[8] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-8 (41m)
