Pittsburgh Open: ElSherbini Downs Salem For Surprise Quarter-Final Berth

Unseeded Mohamed ElSherbini is into the quarter-finals of the Pittsburgh Open after defeating the tournament’s No.3 seed, and former champion, Zahed Salem, in the second round.

ElSherbini had gotten the better of American Shahjahan Khan on the first day of the tournament, and came out firing in this one against the World No.15, taking the first game 11-3.

Salem was able to fight back to take the second game on a tie-break, but the World No.47 regained control during the third game, and went on to secure victory in four, booking his spot in the last eight of the tournament, where he will face another fellow Egyptian, in Omar Mosaad.

The former World No.3 made his way into the quarter-finals after beating England’s Ben Coleman in straight games. The 31-year-old had full control throughout the match, taking the win 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 in 44 minutes, to set up a clash with ElSherbini on Friday evening.

No.1 seed Fares Dessouky made it three Egyptians through to the last eight in Pittsburgh, as he got the better of another Englishman, in George Parker. The pair battled it out for 45 minutes, with the Egyptian able to come through in three games.

The World No.11 will now face New Zealand’s Campbell Grayson in the quarters, after the Kiwi No.2 overcame Richie Fallows in straight games. Grayson won out 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 to advance to the last eight.

On the second day of the tournament, there were also victories for Saurav Ghosal, Cesar Salazar, Raphael Kandra and Gregoire Marche. The Indian will face Salazar in the last eight, while Kandra and Marche will battle it out for a place in the last four.

You can keep up with the live scores from the Pittsburgh Open here.

Results – Second Round: Pittsburgh Open
[1] Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt George Parker (ENG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-4, 12-10 (45m)
[7] Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Richie Fallows (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (41m)
[8] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Todd Harrity (USA) 3-1: 11-8, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7 (47m)
[4] Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt Arturo Salazar (MEX) 3-1: 4-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-6 (37m)
Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bt [3] Zahed Salem (EGY) 3-1: 11-3, 11-13, 11-9, 11-6 (63m)
[5] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Ben Coleman (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-6 (44m)
[6] Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 3-1: 5-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (42m)
[2] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 3-0: 11-13, 14-12, 11-6, 11-9 (66m)

Draw – Quarter Finals: Pittsburgh Open
[1] Fares Dessouky (EGY) v [7] Campbell Grayson (NZL)
[8] Raphael Kandra (GER) v [4] Gregoire Marche (FRA)
Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) v [5] Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[6] Cesar Salazar (MEX) v [2] Saurav Ghosal (IND)