Equinox Women’s Open QF: Aboelkheir Continues Knockout Run

Egypt’s Fayrouz Aboelkheir took down another seeded player at the Equinox Women’s Boston Open, this time beating No.6 seed Marie Stephan, to make it into the semi-finals of the tournament.

The 15-year-old had already gotten the better of No.3 seed Liu Tsz-Ling in the second round of the event, and came into this contest as the underdog once more, but that did not stop the young Egyptian.

She took a tight first game on a tie-break, before then walking away with the match, allowing her French opponent, ranked 17 places higher than her in the World Rankings, just seven points over the next two games. Aboelkheir will now face top seed Lucy Turmel in the last four after she battled her way past compatriot Julianne Courtice.

There was guaranteed to be an Englishwoman in the semi-finals, with the pair going head-to-head, and after tie-breaks in the second and third games, it was World No.52 Courtice who held a 2-1 lead.

Turmel, the World No.25, fought back though, to take the fourth game 11-8, and she carried on that momentum into the deciding game, eventually winning in 52 minutes to secure her place in the semi-finals.

The other semi-final will guarantee a Hong Kong representative in the final on Sunday, as No.2 seed Tze Lok Ho will take on No.4 seed Tsz-Wing Tong. Ho needed all five games to come from behind to defeat Mexico’s Diana Garcia, while Tong downed England’s Lily Taylor in four.

You can watch all the action live from the Equinox Sports Club Boston on the SZK Squash YouTube channel.

Quarter Final Results: Equinox Women’s Boston Open
[1] Lucy Turmel (ENG) bt [5] Julianne Courtice (ENG) 3-2: 11-9, 10-12, 11-13, 11-8, 11-5 (52m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt [6] Marie Stephan (FRA) 3-0: 13-11, 11-3, 11-4 (23m)
[4] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) bt [7] lily Taylor (ENG) 3-1: 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8 (41m)
[2] Tze Lok Ho (HKG) bt Diana Garcia (MEX) 3-2: 9-11, 11-1, 10-12, 11-4, 11-5 (53m)

Semi-Final Draw: To Be Played Saturday, January 29
[1] Lucy Turmel (ENG) v Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY)
[4] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) v [2] Tze Lok Ho (HKG)