Windy City Open RD3: Golan Through to First Major Quarter-Final in Three Years

Spanish veteran Borja Golan has reached his first major PSA World Tour quarter-final for three years after downing Egypt’s Youssef Soliman to reach the last eight of the Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family.

Golan’s last quarter-final appearance at a PSA Platinum event came at the 2017 Windy City Open, and the 37-year-old will once again compete on that stage at the University Club of Chicago after coming from behind to dispatch World No.35 Soliman by an 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 scoreline.

Soliman came into the fixture off the back of a sublime win over World No.8 Marwan ElShorbagy and established his game plan on the match in the opening stages and injected a lot of pace into proceedings to make life difficult for his opponent.

The pace went up a notch in the second, but Golan acquitted himself well and held his nerves in the crucial stages to draw level.

The Spaniard stormed to an 11-4 victory in the third and looked set to complete the win after going 7-4 ahead in game four. Soliman battled back to come back to within a point, but Golan held his nerve and his experience helped him over the line as he advances to the quarter-finals.

“I’m so happy, I don’t think this moment is going to come for me again because I’m finishing my squash career,” said Golan, who won the Windy City Open in 2013.

“I came into this tournament well-prepared with having the Nationals a few weeks ago and I had a few matches in my legs.

“I play so well in Chicago, probably because it’s a great club, great city and a great crowd. I’m very happy with this win today and with the way I played.”

Result
Borja Golan (ESP) bt Youssef Soliman (EGY) 3-1: 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9 (67m)