Sobhy and Farag Win In San Francisco: Player Reaction

The finals of the 2021 Oracle NetSuite Open takes place at the spectacular Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco this evening, and you can stay up to date with all the reaction from those in action on the glass court right here.

Play was due to start at 19:15 (GMT-7), but due to the inclement weather conditions in the Bay Area, play was delayed by 45 minutes to allow the court to dry and for conditions to improve, with a new scheduled start time of 20:00 (GMT-7).

Egypt’s Salma Hany features in the biggest final of her career to date, and she will face US No.1 Amanda Sobhy, who will surely have the home crowd behind her. Following that, the men’s final, which features World No.1 Ali Farag and World No.3 Paul Coll, will take place.

SQUASHTV – and ON Sport for viewers in Egypt – are the only places to watch all the action from the glass unfold.

Sign up to SQUASHTV now using the promo code SEASONIG15 to get 15 months for the price of 12!

We will bring you the results and all of the latest player reaction right here. Play now starts at 20:00 local time (GMT-7).

You can also keep up with the live scores from the event here.

Order of Play
Times are local GMT-7

Sobhy Claims Second Oracle NetSuite Open Title

Amanda Sobhy has taken the spoils at the 2021 Oracle NetSuite Open after defeating Egypt’s Salma Hany in straight games in the women’s final at Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco.

The pair had met five times previously on the PSA World Tour, with the American having won all of those contests, including their last meeting, which came just two weeks ago in the quarter-finals of the CIB Egyptian Open.

It was Sobhy that came flying out of the traps, as the crowd buoyed her on. Her line hitting was sublime from the off, and that helped her take the first game 11-7. The US No.1 continued that form into the second, and although Hany threatened a run through the middle of the game, it was Sobhy that went two games to the good.

This is the moment that @itssobhytime claimed the @ONOSquash title for a second time! #ONSO21 pic.twitter.com/DSmhnXWn7X

— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) September 28, 2021

The third was a foregone conclusion in the end, as ‘Southpaw’ ran out into an 8-2 lead in quick-fire fashion. She rounded out the game with a lovely backhand drive down the line, to claim the biggest title of her career so far, and her second Oracle NetSuite Open, after her win in San Francisco in 2015.

“There is literally steam coming off of my forehead. I am speechless, honestly,” Sobhy said.

“I haven’t won a major title before and if I cry, it has been an emotional week! It has been a long year, I am a bit frazzled so for me to win is extra special. Those close to me knew the state I was in last week so I have to thank my support system this past week. I have to really thank Charlie Johnson, who has been my on-site support system this week.

“To come back after winning it in 2015, and now to win it at a Gold level, it really means a lot, and to do it on home soil is massive!”@itssobhytime is the 2021 @ONOSquash champion! Listen to what she had to say here!#ONSO21 pic.twitter.com/D8kj8PjJF4

— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) September 28, 2021

“It really means a lot. I’ll wrap it up soon, but to come back after winning it in 2015, and now to win it at a Gold level, it really means a lot, and to do it on home soil is massive. I thank you all for being here in the cold and the rain and for supporting me all week.

“I was a little bit edgy, I tried not to think it was a final. We were both vying for our first major title, and so the nerves came. I felt a bit tense, but I tried to be as aggressive as possible. We had one massive rally in the third and I definitely felt that after a week of short matches! I am very pleased to have won in three!

“There is a massive college squash community. There has been a discussion whether going to college and then going pro helps or hinders your pro career. It is a testament to see all of us college players do well on the pro tour and choose the college route. It makes it possible and I hope more people are encouraged to do that!”

Result
[2] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [6] Salma Hany (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-4 (32m)

Farag Downs Coll In Epic Final

World No.1 Ali Farag secured a second victory at the Oracle NetSuite Open after he defeated New Zealand’s Paul Coll in a four-game final, which will go down as one of the best matches of the year to date.

The pair had faced each other 16 times on the PSA World Tour, with Coll having won just two of those, but his most recent coming in the Allam British Open final, where he claimed the biggest title of his career.

He started strongly in the first game, and came through to take it after winning the last three points for an 11-9 scoreline. He then saved two game balls in the second, before Farag was able to regroup and win it 12-10 to level the match at one game apiece.

From there, the World No.1 was able to keep Coll at arms reach, winning the next two games 11-8, 11-8, to secure his second victory in San Francisco, following his win in the city in 2018.

“What a final between these guys!”

This is the moment that World No.1 @AliFarag took the title at the @ONOSquash #ONSO21 pic.twitter.com/ZpOD5DPU25

— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) September 28, 2021

“I prefer the best-of-five for sure, it suits my game and I think Paul would agree with that. We both like to wear our opponents out. We are not the flashiest of players who go for attacking shots, but I think we both did pretty well this week to adapt,” Farag said.

“Both of us have struggled in the World Tour Finals in past years because of the best-of-three, but I think this week we showed we are improving. As he said, it is always enjoyable to be part of a match with Paul. You know it will be played with fighting spirit, picking all the balls up, I don’t know where he gets them from.

“As I always say, we always talk about his physicality, but his squash, his technical prowess and his technical ability, they are improving day by day, and they really are underrated. I am really proud to be a part of these matches and I am looking forward to a lot more in the future together.

“it is always enjoyable to be part of a match with Paul. You know it will be played with fighting spirit.”

See what @AliFarag had to say after securing a second @ONOSquash title #ONSO21 pic.twitter.com/NSPX4lQpMp

— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) September 28, 2021

“Amanda [Sobhy] said it best in her post-match interview. I hope it inspires a lot of people to go down that route of going to college, getting a good degree and then coming back on the professional circuit and achieve all the highs they want to.It is amazing to have all my friends and teammates from Harvard here. I can’t forget Mike Way, who is watching from afar, and my people back home, Karim Darwish, a former World No.1 himself. He has been working very hard with me, my fitness trainers and obviously my family who have been waking up at five in the morning! This support means a lot to me.”

Result
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [4] Paul Coll (NZL) 3-1: 9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8 (70m)