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Squash On Fire Open 2022
Men's Draw
22 - 26 Feb
Washington DC, USA, $50k |
ROUND TWO
23 FEB |
QUARTERS
24 FEB |
SEMIS
25 FEB |
FINAL
26 FEB |
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[1] Victor Crouin (FRA)
11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-5 (70m)
Timothy Brownell (USA) |
Victor Crouin
11-7, 11-9, 11-9 (52m)
Moustafa El Sirty |
Victor Crouin
12-10, 11-4, 11-6 (44m)
Iker Pajares Bernabeu |
Victor Crouin
11-7, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5
Mohamed Elsherbini |
[6] Moustafa El Sirty (EGY)
11-5, 11-6, 11-7 (35m)
[9/16] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) |
[8] Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP)
9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (57m)
Rui Soares (POR) |
Iker Pajares Bernabeu
11-4, 11-9, 4-11, 9-11, 11-5 (69m)
Tsz Kwan Lau |
Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG)
6-11, 13-11, 11-4, 2-11, 11-9 (50m)
[3] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) |
[4] Omar Mosaad (EGY)
11-7, 16-14, 7-11, 11-8 (53m)
[9/16] James Willstrop (ENG) |
Omar Mosaad
8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 16-14 (63m)
Mohamed Elsherbini |
Mohamed Elsherbini
12-10, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8 (68m)
Saurav Ghosal |
[9/16] Mohamed Elsherbini (EGY)
5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 11-9 (67m)
[5] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) |
[9/16] Karim El Hammamy (EGY)
12-10, 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 (82m)
[7] Adrian Waller (ENG) |
Karim El Hammamy
11-5, 11-5, 11-13, 11-9 (80m)
Saurav Ghosal |
[9/16] Nathan Lake (ENG)
7-11, 10-12, 11-8, 11-6, 13-11 (86m)
[2] Saurav Ghosal (IND) |
Timothy Brownell (USA)
11-9, 11-6, 6-11, 6-11, 11-8 (68m)
Henry Leung (HKG)
Yahya Elnawasany (EGY)
11-5, 10-12, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6 (58m)
[WC] Mohamed Nabil (EGY)
Rui Soares (POR)
9-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-5, 11-3 (58m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX)
Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG)
8-11, 11-4, 11-8, 11-5 (38m)
Faraz Khan (USA)
James Willstrop (ENG)
11-5, 11-3, 11-6 (25m)
[WC] Timothy Lasusa (USA)
Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY)
6-11, 15-13, 11-8, 11-4 (56m)
Balazs Farkas (HUN)
Karim El Hammamy (EGY)
11-9, 2-11, 11-5, 15-13 (74m)
Mahesh Mangaonkar (IND)
Nathan Lake (ENG)
11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (32m)
Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) |
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Squash On Fire Open 2022
Women's Draw
22 - 26 Feb
Washington DC, USA, $50k |
ROUND TWO
23 FEB |
QUARTERS
24 FEB |
SEMIS
25 FEB |
FINAL
26 FEB |
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[1] Tinne Gilis (BEL)
11-7, 11-6, 11-5 (27m)
[9/16] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) |
Tinne Gilis
11-3, 11-9, 11-9 (36m)
Katie Malliff |
Tinne Gilis
7-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-2 (37m)
Farida Mohamed |
Tinne Gilis
11-9, 11-5, 11-3 (43m)
Amina Orfi |
Katie Malliff (ENG)
11-8, 8-11, 11-5, 11-4 (43m)
[8] Mélissa Alves (FRA) |
[9/16] Sana Ibrahim (EGY)
11-3, 11-7, 11-7 (29m)
[7] Rachel Arnold (MAS) |
Sana Ibrahim
7-11, 11-7, 12-10, 11-7 (43m)
Farida Mohamed |
[3] Farida Mohamed (EGY)
11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9
Marina Stefanoni (USA) |
[WC] Amina Orfi (EGY)
12-10, 11-5, 11-3 (37m)
[4] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) |
Amina Orfi
7-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-7 (53m)
Nada Abbas |
Amina Orfi
1-9, 5-11, 7-11, 13-11, 11-6 (73m)
Sabrina Sobhy |
[5] Nada Abbas (EGY)
11-4, 12-10, 11-5 (25m)
[9/16] Jana Shiha (EGY) |
[6] Nadine Shahin (EGY)
11-5, 11-9, 11-6 (22m)
Marie Stéphan (FRA) |
Nadine Shahin
11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (29m)
Sabrina Sobhy |
Grace Gear (ENG)
11-3, 11-8, 11-3 (26m)
[2] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) |
Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG)
14-12, 11-5, 11-9 (34m)
Haley Mendez (USA)
Katie Malliff (ENG)
13-11, 11-7, 11-5 (31m)
Enora Villard (FRA)
Sana Ibrahim (EGY)
11-1, 11-6, 11-6 (24m)
Saskia Beinhard (GER)
Marina Stefanoni (USA)
11-7, 12-10, 11-6 (29m)
Danielle Letourneau (CAN)
[WC] Amina Orfi (EGY)
11-9, 11-9, 11-9 (45m)
Lucy Beecroft (ENG)
Jana Shiha (EGY)
11-7, 12-10, 11-4 (23m)
Ineta Mackevica (LAT)
Marie Stephan (FRA)
11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 11-9 (35m)
Emilia Soini (FIN)
Grace Gear (ENG)
11-5, 12-14, 11-2, 12-10 (40m)
Nicole Bunyan (CAN) |
Finals
Gilis and Crouin Claim Squash On Fire Open Titles
Belgium’s Tinne Gilis and France’s Victor Crouin have won the Squash On
Fire Open titles in Washington, D.C., after beating Egypt’s Amina Orfi
and Mohamed ElSherbini respectively to lift the PSA World Tour Bronze
level crowns.
Gilis was featuring in her second PSA World Tour final of the season,
and looking for her first win after losing out to older sister Nele in
the final of the Open de France de Squash in September. She took on
wildcard Amina Orfi, who only got into the competition after winning the
PSA Satellite event last weekend, and then came through the draw in
incredible fashion, downing four higher-ranked players.
From the off, the Belgian was on form, and she won the opening six
points of the contest with some sublime drops into the front left
corner. Some lovely boasts got the Egyptian up and running on the
scoreboard, but the World No.13 took the opening game 11-9.
From there, it was more comfortable for Gilis, who was able to manoeuvre
the ball and her opponent around the court. Orfi showed glimpses of why
she had reached the final, but the Belgian was too strong in the end,
winning in straight games to claim her maiden PSA World Tour title.
“I still can’t believe it to be honest. I played this tournament with no
expectations, I just wanted to play well and enjoy my squash again! I
think that’s what I did today!” Gilis explained.
“She has been playing unreal squash! She is only 15-years-old, coming
from the qualifying tournament to beat everyone in the bottom half of
the draw. It is very impressive for a 15-year-old! I knew I had to be on
my toes today, and that this match would be physical. I am happy with
the way I played, and that I managed to win in three.
“This is the first time I had ever seen her play so I didn’t know what
to expect. I watched her match with Sabrina [Sobhy] which was very
physical. It was a 70-minute match so I was hoping she would be feeling
it!
“Winning a Bronze tournament was really something I wanted to achieve
this season. I didn’t know when that was going to happen because I was
struggling with some injuries and stuff. I am so happy that I managed to
reset, keep on training because it has been mentally hard. I made sure I
could play this tournament because I love this tournament, everyone
around here, so it makes me extra happy to win my first Bronze
tournament here in Washington, D.C.”
The men’s title was won by Frenchman Victor Crouin after he defeated
Egypt’s Mohamed ElSherbini in a four-game contest in Washington, D.C.
The pair had met just 11 days previously in a quarter final at the
Oxford Properties Canadian Men’s Open, but this time, silverware was on
the line.
After a tight start to the opening game, some crucial errors from
ElSherbini allowed Crouin to take the win the last four points, with the
Frenchman taking the early lead in the contest. The Egyptian came out
fighting in the second game though, and used his speed around the court
to hold the advantage through the middle part of the game. A couple of
lovely winners from his racket were enough to see him level the tie at
one game apiece.
The third game was disrupted somewhat, with the talks distract the
Egyptian slightly. Crouin was able to run away with the third game in
the end, winning it 11-7. After an injury delay in between games, the
fourth got underway with the World No.10 in control, and he never ceded
that
The World No.10 then showed why he has been one of the Tour’s most
consistent players, as despite the lengthy break, he was able to keep
the momentum in his favour. He went on to win the fourth game 11-5 to
secure his third title of the campaign, and his second Squash On Fire
Open crown.
“I am very relieved, I would say! I am happy, but mostly relieved. It
has been a long four weeks, with the French Championships, then playing
in Calgary. That was bittersweet because I lost in the final after
playing some great squash all week, I just couldn’t convert that final,”
Crouin said.
“I came here with the title in my mind. I got off to a scrappy start
with a five-game against Timmy [Brownell], and now I am standing here
with the title. It is pretty amazing how things can turn sometimes! I
stayed confident, believed in myself and seized the opportunity.
“I knew the French community was going to come and support me today, so
I thought about what it was like to play in front of the French crowd at
the Open de France. It was my biggest title and probably one of the best
memories of my life. That was what was in my mind before I came on court
and that paid off.
“All credit to Mohamed who played tactically brilliantly today, but
yeah… Super happy to have that support here in Washington. I have won
eight matches here in a row now, two titles, so I will be back!”
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Semi Finals
Wildcard Orfi Stuns Sobhy To Reach First PSA World
Tour Final
15-year-old Egyptian Amina Orfi is through to her first PSA World Tour
final after she came from behind to defeat the USA’s Sabrina Sobhy in a
tense five-game clash, continuing her incredible run at the Bronze level
Squash On Fire Open this week in Washington, D.C.
Prior to this encounter, Sobhy had been the only player to defeat Orfi
in her short career to date. That came at the CIB Egyptian Open in
September, and since then, the 15-year-old had gone 16 matches without
losing, racking up three titles in that time on the Challenger Tour.
It was Sobhy who controlled the early exchanges though, but Orfi showed
no signs of any nerves in what was the biggest match of her career to
date. She went on to take the first game 11-9 thanks to a run of six
points in the middle part of the game.
A quick burst of points later in the second game saw the American draw
level, and she then took the lead in the contest for the first time
after the third game, to the delight of the home crowd at Squash On
Fire.
However, the 15-year-old continued to look at home on the big stage. The
fourth saw neither player able to run away into a big lead. After saving
two game balls, Sobhy then had a match ball of her own, but despite a
despairing dive from the American, Orfi was able to keep the match
going. She went on to win the next two points of the tie-break to take
the fourth 13-11 to send the contest into a decider.
Errors at crucial times in the fifth game were the downfall for the
American, as she was unable to keep the pressure up on the 15-year-old
wildcard. Orfi came through to win the deciding game 11-6, and to book
her spot in a first PSA World Tour final, and a fourth successive final
on Tour.
“I feel so happy! I didn’t expect to win today, I felt a bit tired after
yesterday’s match and they were a bit closer. Yesterday’s match was
later and this was a bit earlier,” Orfi said.
“After I won the first game, there was still some hope, and even when I
was 2-1 down… I kept focussing and I just had to keep playing. Even if I
had lost, I made it this far and it was still a good tournament.
“Towards the end, I was just thinking that this was my second chance,
and to make the most out of it. I tried not to think at all about the
Egyptian Open, I told myself to just play a solid game and to wait until
she made an error.”
Orfi will now face the tournament’s top seed, Belgium’s Tinne Gilis, in
the final on Sunday afternoon. The World No.13 defeated Egypt’s Farida
Mohamed, the No.3 seed, in a four-game contest to record her first win
over the Egyptian in three attempts on Tour.
In the men’s event, Egypt’s Mohamed ElSherbini also caused an upset,
knocking out No.2 seed Saurav Ghosal in a display of high-quality
squash, as he moved into a first PSA World Tour final in three years.
Mohamed ElSherbini
Both played brutal matches on quarter finals day, but the pace was high
from the outset. The first game was a tight and tense battle, going all
the way to a tie-break, and it was the Egyptian that was able to take
first blood, winning it 12-10 to hold the first lead of the match.
He was then able to also take the second game to double his lead in the
match, but the Indian No.1 fought back to take the third and to put some
pressure on the 30-year-old Egyptian. However, ElSherbini started the
fourth game strongly, winning six of the first eight points. Ghosal came
back to make it nervy for ElSherbini, but the Egyptian came through to
win in four and to make the final.
“Today I just tried to play a lot aggressive squash to the back before
going to the front because he scrapes a lot of balls up and he gets a
lot of my tough shots out,” the Egyptian said.
“I wanted to make sure that I beat him at the back first before going
for the short shots. Thank god it happened you know! I got a little bit
over-confident with my shots. I felt like I was Amr Shabana or Ramy
Ashour or someone like that!”
ElSherbini will now take on top seed Victor Crouin for the second time
in as many weeks after the Frenchman defeated Spanish No.1 Iker Pajares
Bernabeu in straight games. Crouin and ElSherbini faced each other in
Calgary last week, with the World No.10 getting the win.
The finals of the PSA World Tour Bronze level Squash On Fire Open will
take place on Sunday, February 26 in Washington, D.C. with play starting
at 13:30 (GMT -5). All the action will be streamed live on
SQUASHTV.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok
|
Quarter Finals
Wildcard Orfi Reaches First PSA World Tour Semi-Final
At Squash On Fire Open
Amina Orfi’
15-year-old Amina Orfi’s dream run at the PSA World Tour Bronze level
Squash On Fire Open continued on Friday evening, as the tournament
wildcard defeated compatriot Nada Abbas to move through to a first
semi-final on the PSA World Tour.
Having already beaten England’s Lucy Beecroft and the returning
Sivasangari Subramaniam, Orfi took on compatriot Nada Abbas in the
quarter finals. She fell behind after losing the first game, but battled
back to win in four to keep her incredible unbeaten run going, with the
15-year-old now having won 16 matches in a row.
“I am really happy that I won. It is the first time playing her and in
the beginning, I was bit.. Not so confident, and my shots weren’t going
that well. It is my first day on the glass court as well so it was a bit
different,” Orfi said after the win.
Mohamed ElSherbini
Elsewhere, Egypt's Mohamed ElSherbini got the better of compatriot and
No.4 seed Omar Mosaad in a tense clash to reach his first PSA World Tour
semi-final in over three years, since making the final of the Motor City
Open in 2020.
The Squash On Fire Open continues on Saturday, February 25 with the
semi-finals of the PSA World Tour Bronze level event. Play starts at
13:00 (GMT -5), with all the action being streamed live on
SQUASHTV.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok.
|
Round 2
Top Seeds Crouin and Ghosal Survive Five-Game Scares
To Reach Squash On Fire Open Quarter Finals
France’s Victor Crouin and India’s Saurav Ghosal both had to battle
through tough five-game contests to reach the quarter finals of the PSA
World Tour Bronze level Squash On Fire Open, getting the better of the
USA’s Timothy Brownell and England’s Nathan Lake, respectively.
Crouin, the top seed for the men’s event, took the lead twice in his
clash with Brownell, but saw the American fight back on both occasions.
The World No.10 eventually got the job done, winning the fifth 11-5. In
the last match of the night, Ghosal found himself two games down against
Lake, but was able to fight back brilliantly to win in a tie-break in
the fifth 13-11, after a high-octane 86-minute contest.
Elsewhere, there were surprise wins for Hong Kong’s Tsz Kwan Lau and
Egypt’s Mohamed ElSherbini in the men’s event, while wildcard Amina Orfi,
along with England’s Katie Malliff and Egypt’s Sana Ibrahim, continued
her run at the PSA World Tour Bronze level competition.
The Squash On Fire Open continues in Washington, D.C. on Friday,
February 24 with the quarter finals. The action gets underway at 12:00
(GMT -5) and all eight matches will be streamed live and free on the
PSA World Tour website.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
PSA Tour Events will also be shown live on
SQUASHTV.
|
Round 1
Wildcard Orfi Among Victors
Amina Orfi in action in her first round match at the
Squash On Fire Open
15-year-old wildcard Amina Orfi was among those to win in the evening
session of day one at the Squash On Fire Open in Washington, D.C.
The Egyptian secured her place in the main draw of the Bronze level
competition after winning the Wildcard Challenge at the weekend. After
winning her first three Challenger Tour events, she claimed her maiden
PSA World Tour match win on Wednesday evening, beating England’s Lucy
Beecroft in straight games.
“I am so happy. I prepared for this match so well and I was just playing
so confidently. I thought that there was nothing to lose and I just
wanted to play well,” Orfi said.
Compatriot Jana Shiha also continued her good form, recording a
comfortable 3-0 victory over Ineta Mackevica. The Latvian, who calls
Squash On Fire home, had the crowd behind her, but Shiha was able to
drown out the noise to win 11-7, 12-10, 11-4 to move through to the last
16 of the competition.
There were also wins for England’s Grace Gear and Frenchwoman Marie
Stephan in the women’s event on Wednesday evening. Gear caused an upset,
knocking out Canadian Nicole Bunyan, while Stephan fought past Finnish
No.1 Emilia Soini in four games.
In the men’s draw, former World No.1 James Willstrop was in true
‘showman’ mode, as he got the better of wildcard Timothy Lasusa to move
into the second round. The pair put on a show for the crowd in
Washington, D.C., with Willstrop running away with it in the third game.
James Willstrop (right) in action against Timothy
Lasusa (left)
“That was a lot of fun. He had some nice skills and we had a couple of
nice exchanges down the right, with a few holds. It was a good match to
have and good to be out there again,” Willstrop said.
Fellow Englishman Nathan Lake was also among the quartet of men to
advance through to the last 16 on Wednesday evening. Egypt’s Mohamed
ElSherbini and Karim El Hammamy also booked their second round places
with four-game victories on the opening day.
The Squash on Fire Open continues tomorrow with play beginning at 12:00
(GMT -5). Matches will be streamed live on the
PSA World Tour website.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
PSA Tour Events will also be shown live on
SQUASHTV.
|
Preview
Parker Withdraws From Upcoming Squash On Fire Open
England’s George Parker has withdrawn from the upcoming Squash On Fire
Open due to an ongoing injury issue.
The Englishman, who had already withdrawn from three events in the early
part of 2023, including the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions, is now
set to miss the PSA World Tour Bronze level event in Washington, D.C.
from February 22-26.
Parker was set to be the No.7 seed for the tournament, but due to his
withdrawal, Spanish No.1 Iker Pajares Bernabeu moves into the top eight
seeds and receives a bye through the opening day’s action.
The leading American on home soil, Faraz Khan, moves into the 9/16
seeding bracket and he will now face Hong Kong’s Tsz Kwan Lau in the
first round. Colombia’s Juan Camilo Vargas is the recipient of the free
spot in the draw, and the World No.59 will take on England’s Nathan Lake
on the opening day.
For more information on the event, Where available see the
PSA Live Scores page, or follow
on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram
&
TikTok. Selected
PSA Tour Events will also be shown live on
SQUASHTV. |
|
