SQUASH PLAYER NEWS


The World of Squash
at Your Fingertips

HOME
NEWS
RESULTS 
CALENDAR
EVENTS
PLAYERS
CLUBS
RULES
LINKS
MAGAZINE
FEATURES
GEAR
DIRECTORY
WORKSHOP
PROMOTIONS
COLUMNS
ARCHIVE
About SP
Squash on TV
Search
UK Counties
World Links

Online Store
Books, Subs, Videos

Squash Directory
Where to get it all

Classified Section
Job, Jobs, Jobs Something to sell ...

 

31/08/2017
JP Morgan China Open 2017

LATEST

The indispensable magazine for serious Squash Players
click here for your Subscription to Squash Player Magazine
JP Morgan China Open 2017
Men's Draw
29 Aug -03 Sep
Shanghai, China
, $100k
Round TWO
31 Aug
Quarters
01 Sep
Semis
02 Sep
Final
03 Sep
[1] Ali Farag (EGY)
11-5, 11-7, 11-5 (21m)
[WC] Joe Wong (CHN)
Ali Farag
12-10, 12-10, 11-5 (45m)
Diego Elias
Ali Farag
11-8, 5-11, 11-3, 12-10 (51m)
Paul Coll
Ali Farag
11-3, 11-8, 10-12, 2-11, 11-5 (60m)
Ramy Ashour
Diego Elias (PER)
12-10, 11-3, 11-7 (39m)
[8] Max Lee (HKG)
[6] Paul Coll (NZL)
11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (30m)
Zahed Mohamed (EGY)
Paul Coll
11-6, 11-3, 11-4 (40m)
 Fares Dessouky
[Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND)
11-8, 14-16, 11-7, 11-8 (70m)
[4]
Fares Dessouky (EGY)
[3] Ramy Ashour (EGY)
11-9, 11-6, 11-4 (28m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX)
Ramy Ashour
11-6, 11-3, 11-5 (36m)
Daryl Selby
Ramy Ashour
12-10, 11-3, 11-6 (41m)
Marwan ElShorbagy
[Q] Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS)
11-6, 12-10, 11-9 (54m)
[7]
Daryl Selby (ENG)
[5] Simon Rösner (GER)
11-5, 11-7, 6-11, 11-4 (47m)
[Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
Simon Rösner
11-7, 11-5, 11-7 (33m)
Marwan ElShorbagy
[Q] Greg Lobban (SCO)
11-6, 11-8, 11-9 (35m)
[2]
Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)

Qualifying

Qualifying Finals
[8] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt [1] Alan Clyne (SCO) 3-1: 7-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (60m)
[6] Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-1: 13-15, 11-4, 13-11, 11-4 (61m)
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt [4] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) 3-1: 11-7, 9-11, 11-2, 11-4 (46m)
[2] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [5] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 6-11, 11-9, 11-1 (51m)

 

JP Morgan China Open 2017
Women's Draw
29 Aug -03 Sep
Shanghai, China
, $100k
Round TWO
31 Aug
Quarters
01 Sep
Semis
02 Sep
Final
03 Sep
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
12-14, 11-2, 11-0, 11-8 (33m)
[Q] Joshna Chinappa (IND)
Nour El Sherbini
11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (27m)
Alison Waters
Nour El Sherbini
12-10, 11-4, 11-6 (29m)
Joelle King
Nour El Sherbini
12-10, 11-7, 11-9 (39m)
Nouran Gohar
Emily Whitlock (ENG)
11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-5 (45m)
[7]
Alison Waters (ENG)
[5] Nicol David (MAS)
11-9, 8-11, 11-2, 11-6 (48m)
[Q] Tesni Evans (WAL)
Nicol David
8-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5 (66m)
Joelle King
Joelle King (NZL)
11-0, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4 (45m)
[3] Laura Massaro (ENG)
[4] Nouran Gohar (EGY)
11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (28m)
[Q] Olivia Blatchford (USA)
Nouran Gohar
11-3, 11-6, 11-6 (29m)
Nour El Tayeb
Nouran Gohar
11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8 (49m)
Camille Serme
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
6-11, 11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4 (55m)
[6] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[8] Annie Au (HKG)
11-2, 11-7, 11-2 (18m)
[WC] Li Dongjin (CHN)
 Annie Au
11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (28m)
Camille Serme
[Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY)
11-4, 13-11, 11-9 (37m)
[2]
Camille Serme (FRA)

Qualifying

Qualifying Finals
[1] Joshna Chinappa (IND) bt [7] Dipika Pallikal Karthik (IND) 3-2: 7-11, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 11-8 (56m)
[6] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) bt [4] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 3-1: 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5 (40m)
[3] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [8] Mayar Hany (EGY) 3-1: 11-5, 11-7, 10-12, 11-7 (44m)
[2] Tesni Evans (WAL) bt [5] Joey Chan (HKG) 3-1: 4-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (57m)
 

 
REPORTS
Ashour And El Sherbini Claim China Open Crowns

Egyptian Women's World No.1 Nour El Sherbini and former Men's World No.1 Ramy Ashour claimed the honours at the 2017 J.P. Morgan China Open, prevailing in two all-Egyptian title-deciders to take the first major honours of the 2017/18 PSA World Tour season.

Atop The Peninsula Hotel overlooking Shanghai's iconic Bund, El Sherbini dominated compatriot Nouran Gohar to take the Women's crown in straight-games while Ashour - who last tasted tournament success in nearby Hong Kong twelve months ago - came through a captivating five game affair with tournament top seed Ali Farag.

Ashour started strong, replicating the form that took him to straight game wins over Daryl Selby and Marwan ElShorbagy during the past two days as he varied the pace to unsettle Farag and take a 2-0 lead.

Undeterred Farag managed to fight his way back into proceedings and, following a drop in level from Ashour, forced a decisive fifth game. But, over eager to reach the finish line, the younger man began to give away errors, allowing Ashour to come through 11-3, 11-8, 10-12, 2-11, 11-5.

"I'm very, very happy to win," said Ashour.

"I've enjoyed being here this week - it's my first time competing in Shanghai. I always seem to play well in the Far East, I'm not sure why but I feel comfortable in this part of the world.

"And with a venue like, with these views, it's make me proud of our sport. But I couldn't have done it today without the team who've been behind me both at this event and back home.

"Ali is a very fair and smart player and it was a great battle on court today - and I hope we are going to have many more in the future."

After the match Farag said: "It was a great match. He's one of the most naturally gifted players ever to play the game so to be on court pushing him to five games in a final was a privilege for me. We both gave it our very best.

For 21-year-old El Sherbini the win sees her extend her lead atop the Women's World Rankings courtesy of a routine 3-0 win that saw her inflict a fourth consecutive China Open final defeat on 19-year-old Gohar.

"I'm really happy - it's a great start to the season," said El Sherbini.

"I'm happy with the way I played and the level of my performance. I had no real expectations today - I was just focusing on my game plan and I think the first game gave me a lot of confidence.

"So I'm happy with the way it came together today and hopefully I can continue to play well throughout the season."
 
Ashour Leads Egyptian Whitewash In China Open Semis

Former World No.1 Ramy Ashour put in a dominant display, in which he looked back to some of his best ever form, to overcome Marwan ElShorbagy and lead a quartet of Egyptian players into the finals of the 2017 J.P. Morgan China Open - the PSA M100 tournament taking place atop The Peninsula Hotel.

Current World No.14 Ashour was at times mesmeric as he overpowered and outmanoeuvred World No.6 ElShorbagy from start-to-finish to record a straight-games victory that sees him reach his first tournament final since the 2016 World Championship - when injury derailed his title bid.

"For me it's not just about the match and the result," said Ashour afterwards, having wrapped up the victory in 41 minutes.

"It's beyond that - it's about the long term. I'm proud of my past achievements but it's about now. There are other players coming up and I'm trying to stay there and today I showed that I can still be up there.

"In the past few seasons I'd do well in one event but not be able to back it up or have that consistency. I'm trying to get things right, find that balance, and at the moment, it's good."

Ashour will face tournament top seed Ali Farag, World No.5, after he defeated New Zealand's Paul Coll over four games while 21-year-old Women's World No.1 Nour El Sherbini will hope to get her season off to a winning start against her younger compatriot Nouran Gohar, the 19-year-old who will be competing in her fourth consecutive China Open final.

Gohar, who has lost out in the showpiece event for the past three years running, booked her place in the decider after a hard fought four-game win over World No.3 Camille Serme, using her pace and power to keep the Frenchwoman on the back foot and enforce her style on proceedings.

"All my past matches with Camille have been very tough and she won the last few meetings, so I knew what to expect from her today," said Gohar.

"She's been on top of her game recently but I tried to focus on enjoying the match. I didn't put any pressure on myself, I just concentrated on enjoy being here and giving it my best.

"I like this event and I've a good record here - it's an amazing location. I've made the final here three times and the first time I reached the top ten, my first win over Nicol David and my first big final all came here.

"I've got great memories here so hopefully I can add another one by winning the final tomorrow."
 
Kiwi King Continues Giant Killing Run At 2017 China Open

Just 24 hours after dethroning 2016 tournament champion Laura Massaro in a dominant four-game affair New Zealand's Joelle King notched up a second big name scalp at the 2017 J.P. Morgan China Open, defeating eight-time World Champion Nicol David 3-2 to reach the semi-finals of the PSA M100 tournament.

King, who had fallen victim to David in all ten of their past encounters stretching back to 2010, showed impressive resilience as she twice came from behind to out-muscle David after 66-minutes of play in a performance that will have been noted by her title-rivals.

"It's been a while since I've played as well as this so I'm trying to enjoy the moment - to beat two legends of the game back-to-back is a great achievement," said World No.11 King.

"I had never beaten Nicol before and I was behind twice today. I'm pleased with the way I managed the mental side of the game and stayed tough - and it's nice to finally get that win over her.

"It's pleasing to be playing some of my best squash but it's all well and good to get those two wins - there are two more matches to come if I want to win the tournament. So I need to refocus and make sure I'm at my best again tomorrow."

She will now face tournament top seed and World No.1 Nour El Sherbini for a place in the title decider where either Camille Serme or Nouran Gohar will await, while in the men's draw King's compatriot Paul Coll finds himself surrounded by Egyptian threats.

Coll, who today broke into the World Top 10 for the first time in his career, overcame Fares Dessouky to set up a last four clash with top seed Ali Farag, with second seeded Marwan Elshorbagy set to face former World No.1, and the man Coll knocked out of the Top 10, Ramy Ashour in the bottom half of the draw.

Ashour, who's last tournament win came over 12 months ago in Hong Kong, produced a second consecutive performance of intent as he downed England's Daryl Selby 3-0 in just 36 minutes to earn his place at the stunning glass court, situated overlooking Shanghai's Bund.

"Its been going well for the first two matches of the season, which is good, and hopefully I can keep it up," said Ashour.

"We'll see what happens in the next round. It's all about consistency. Changing courts is always a challenge but whatever the court or the type of match I train to adapt under any circumstance.

"You have to prepare for anything and it's my first time in Shanghai - the court on the rooftop of the Peninsula Hotel is pretty impressive, so I'm looking forward to it."
 
2016 Champion Massaro Crashes Out In China Open

2016 champion Laura Massaro crashed out of the 2017 J.P. Morgan China Open at the very first hurdle earlier today  after falling to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of New Zealand's Joelle King.

The 33-year-old World No.4 could find no answer to King's early attacks, slumping to a staggering 11-0 defeat in the first game before King quickly doubled her advantage.

Massaro managed to gain some momentum in the third, playing with better control and length, but the early damage couldn't be recovered and she bowed out 11-0, 11-6, 7-11, 11-4 as World No.11 King celebrated one of her most impressive wins of the year.

"I felt good out there, Laura is no mug, she won here last year, so to come out and win in four is really positive," said King.

"I was seeing the ball early from the first rally. I was just in front of her throughout that first game and to take it 11-0 was beyond expectation. It can be easy to drop concentration after that kind of score though so I tried to stay calm and not get too excited.

"It's early in the season, but I put in a lot of work in the summer and if I can keep playing my game and produce more of the same then who knows what will happen."

King will now face Malaysian eight-time World Champion Nicol David for a place in the semi-finals while another English player, Sarah-Jane Perry, fell victim to an upset, losing out to Egypt's Nour El Tayeb in a tense five-game battle.

The duo last met ten years previously, in the World Junior Championship when El Tayeb squandered a two-game lead, but in what was a lengthy, high quality duel the Egyptian, playing with increased disciplined and control, overturned an early defecit to secure an important win.

"I'm very pleased with that result," said El Tayeb.

"These are the kind of matches I need to win to get back inside the top eight. I have been working very hard in the off season to improve and especially work on my mental strength. I think that came through in the end today, so that is very pleasing.

"It's a good start to the year and hopefully I can keep it going. To beat Sarah, who's in the top eight now, is a good beginning."

Elsewhere. top seeds Camille Serme and Nour El Sherbini came through their opening encounters unscathed while the men's quarter-finals Egyptian eyes will be looking towards a clean sweep of victories.

Returning maverick Ramy Ashour ensured his season began in winning fashion courtesy of a straight-games win over Mexico's Cesar Salazar, with compatriots and tournament top seeds Ali Farag and Marwan ElShorbagy also triumphing 3-0.

Competing on the all-glass court overlooking Shanghai's Bund, ElShorbagy - whose brother Mohamed won the title here 12 months ago - was just too good for the ever-improving Scotsman Greg Lobban, while top seed Farag made light work of wildcard Joe Wong.

Despite starting flat-footed and losing the first exchanges, the Egyptian soon got into his groove and looked at ease as he moved into the quarter-finals to face Peruvian Diego Elias.

"It's never easy playing someone for the first time and who you don't know anything about - I didn't know what to expect from him today," said Farag.

"He hit some good shots and moved well so I'm happy to be through in three. I wanted to get used to the court as much as possible ahead of a big match with Diego tomorrow.

"We've played a few times recently and it's always tough so hopefully I can carry that momentum forward."

Fares Dessouky ensured Egyptian interest in all four last eight matches while Daryl Selby, Paul Coll and Simon Rösner join Elias in flying the international flag.
 


Adnan Downs Mosaad As China Open Qualification Concludes

Malaysian Nafiizwan Adnan pulled off a huge upset as he defeated former World No.3 Omar Mosaad in the final round of qualification to secure his place in the main draw of the 2017 J.P. Morgan China Open - the PSA M100 tournament which gets underway in Shanghai tomorrow (August 31).

World No.32 Adnan recovered from dropping the first game to impress as he starved the hard-hitting Mosaad of attacking opportunities, grinding his way to a 3-1 win that sees him go through to take on England's Daryl Selby in the first round.

While Mosaad bowed out, there was joy for another Egyptian, Karim Ali Fathi, as he overturned the seedings to defeat number one seeded qualifier Alan Clyne in a four-game encounter. Fathi will now face Germany's Simon Rösner in the main draw.

Clyne's compatriot, Greg Lobban, ensured there would be at least one Scottish presence in the event as he defeated Hong Kong's Tsz Fung Yip, with India's Saurav Ghosal completing the line up of qualifiers in the Men's draw.

Ghosal's compatriot Joshna Chinappa, will also be competing in the main draw of the Women's event after coming through a tense and tough five-game encounter with national rival Dipika Pallikal Karthik. Chinappa will now face World No.1 and tournament favourite Nour El Sherbini tomorrow.