Bermuda Open QF: Ayman, Shenawy and Vargas Gatecrash Semis

The Bermuda Open, the fourth and final qualifying event for the 2021-2022 PSA World Championships, continued on Thursday evening at the Bermuda Squash Rackets Association, with a trio of players causing upsets to make it into the last four of the competition.

After taking down the top seed in the second round, Egypt’s Seif Shenawy came up against Englishman Robert Downer for a place in the last four of the Challenger 10 level competition. Downer had won their most recent meeting, at the University of Birmingham Open four weeks ago, but this one went the way of the Egyptian, thanks to a 13-11 scoreline in the third, as he claimed a straight games victory.

Shenawy will now face Colombia’s Juan Camilo Vargas, after the World No.83 caused another upset to defeat Canadian No.1, and the tournament’s No.3 seed, David Baillargeon. Vargas found himself 2-1 down in the contest, but fought back to win the last two games quite comfortably, coming through after 66 minutes of action to make the semi-finals.

The other men’s match in the last four of the Challenger 10 level tournament will see another Colombian in action, in Ronald Palomino, as he takes on Scotland’s No.4 seed Rory Stewart for a place in the final on Saturday.

There was just the one surprise result in the women’s draw, as another Egyptian, in No.5 seed Kenzy Ayman, downed No.2 seed Nadia Pfister in straight games. Despite sitting eleven places below the Swiss No.2 in the World Rankings, Ayman won in less than half an hour to book her place in the semi-finals of the tournament.

She will now face No.3 seed, and Polish No.1, Karina Tyma, after a straight games victory over Alex Haydon saw the Pole advance to the last four. The other women’s semi-final will see top seed Georgia Adderley take on England’s Grace Gear in an all-British battle in Bermuda.

The semis of the Bermuda Open will take place on Friday, May 6 at the Bermuda Squash Rackets Association, with places in Saturday’s finals up for grabs at the Challenger 10 level competition.

Men’s Quarter Final Results: Bermuda Open
Seif Shenawy (EGY) bt [5] Robert Downer (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 13-11 (48m)
[6] Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) bt [3] David Baillargeon (CAN) 3-2: 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 11-3, 11-5 (66m)
[4] Rory Stewart (SCO) bt [8] Tom Walsh (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-9, 11-9 (42m)
[7] Ronald Palomino (COL) bt Owain Taylor (WAL) 3-1: 15-17, 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 (55m)

Men’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, May 6
Seif Shenawy (EGY) v [6] Juan Camilo Vargas (COL)
[4] Rory Stewart (SCO) v [7] Ronald Palomino (COL)

Women’s Quarter Final Results: Bermuda Open
[5] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt [2] Nadia Pfister (SUI) 3-0: 11-7, 11-3, 11-8 (28m)
[3] Karina Tyma (POL) bt [6] Alex Haydon (AUS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (26m)
[4] Grace Gear (ENG) bt [7] Kaitlyn Watts (NZL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-9 (30m)
[1] Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt [8] Diana Garcia (MEX) 3-1: 11-4, 11-8, 11-13, 11-6 (43m)

Women’s Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Friday, May 6
[5] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) v [3] Karina Tyma (POL)
[4] Grace Gear (ENG) v [1] Georgia Adderley (SCO)