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30/09/2019
Netsuite Open 2019

Latest | NEWS | Schedule | History

 

reports & Results

Previews

Round 1

Round 2

Quarters

Semis

Finals

 

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Netsuite Open 2019
Men's Draw
 24 - 30 Sep
San Fransisco, USA, $121k

ROUND TWO
26 SEP
QUARTERS
27/28 SEP
SEMIS
29 SEP
FINAL
30 SEP

[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY)
11-9, 11-7 (36m)
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)

Mohamed ElShorbagy
11-5, 11-6 (20m)
Ryan Cuskelly
Mohamed ElShorbagy
11-4, 17-15 (41m)
Marwan ElShorbagy
Mohamed ElShorbagy
11-5, 11-13, 11-9, 7-11, 11-4 (70m)
Tarek Momen
[8] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)
11-2, 12-10 (42m)
Campbell Grayson (NZL)
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
11-4, 11-9 (20m)
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
Marwan ElShorbagy
12-10, 10-12, 13-11 (45m)
Raphael Kandra
Raphael Kandra (GER)
11-9, 11-7 (33m)
[3] Simon Rösner (GER)
[4] Miguel Rodriguez (COL)
11-9, 11-1 (21m)
Arturo Salazar (MEX)
Miguel Rodriguez
11-3, 11-6 (20m)
Alan Clyne
Miguel Rodriguez
11-6, 11-3 (23m)
Tarek Momen
Alan Clyne (SCO)
13-11, 3-11, 11-5 (54m)
[7] Declan James (ENG)
[6] Joel Makin (WAL)
11-5, 11-9 (41m)
Mostafa Asal (EGY)
Joel Makin
7-11, 11-5, 11-7 (46m)
Tarek Momen
Cesar Salazar (MEX)
11-5, 11-6 (17m)
[2] Tarek Momen (EGY)

ROUND ONE

Results: Men’s First Round
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 2-0: 11-9, 11-4
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 2-1: 12-10, 4-11, 11-5 (49m)
Campbell Grayson (NZL) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 2-1: 11-13, 11-2, 11-6 (53m)
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 2-1: 8-11, 12-10, 11-8 (55m)
Arturo Salazar (MEX) bt Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) 2-1: 6-11, 11-3, 11-7 (29m)
Alan Clyne (SCO) bt George Parker (ENG) 2-0: 11-9, 11-6 (35m)
Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) 2-0: 11-3, 11-7 (33m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [WC] Faraz Khan (USA) 2-1: 4-11, 11-8, 11-5 (31m)

Netsuite Open 2019
Women's Draw
 24 - 30 Sep
San Fransisco, USA, $121k

ROUND TWO
26 SEP
QUARTERS
27/28 SEP
SEMIS
29 SEP
FINAL
30 SEP

[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
9-11, 11-5, 11-5 (35m)
Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA)

Raneem El Welily
11-8, 11-8 (21m)
Sarah-Jane Perry
Raneem El Welily
11-5, 11-7 (14m)
Joshna Chinappa
Raneem El Welily
11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (23m)
Nour El Tayeb
[5] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
11-6, 11-8 (18m)
Emily Whitlock (ENG)
[8] Joshna Chinappa (IND)
11-7, 6-11, 11-6 (33m)
Melissa Alves (FRA)
Joshna Chinappa
11-9, 6-11, 11-3 (35m)
Joelle King
[4] Joelle King (NZL)
11-8, 11-5 (20m)
Olivia Fiechter (USA)
[3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
11-5, 11-7 (16m)
Hollie Naughton (CAN)
 Nour El Tayeb
Walkover
Amanda Sobhy
Nour El Tayeb
11-7, 7-11, 11-6 (32m)
Camille Serme
[6] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
11-6, 11-3 (16m)
Milou van der Heijden (NED)
[7] Tesni Evans (WAL)
11-4, 11-8 (23m)
Salma Hany (EGY)
Tesni Evans
15-13, 11-9 (31m)
Camille Serme
Nele Gilis (BEL)
11-3, 11-4 (21m)
[2] Camille Serme (FRA)

ROUND ONE

Results: Women’s First Round
Melissa Alves (FRA) bt Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 2-0: 11-5, 11-7 (21m)
Olivia Fiechter (USA) bt Tinne Gilis (BEL) 2-0: 11-6, 11-8 (23m)
Emily Whitlock (ENG) bt Danielle Letourneau (CAN) 2-0: 11-8, 11-9 (22m)
Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA) bt Lisa Aitken (SCO) 2-0: 11-7, 11-6 (20m)
Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 2-0: 11-3, 11-9 (14m)
Milou van der Heijden (NED) bt Mariam Metwally (EGY) 2-0: 11-9, 11-9 (20m)
Salma Hany (EGY) bt Coline Aumard (FRA) 2-0: 11-7, 11-7 (21m)
Nele Gilis (BEL) bt Haley Mendez (USA) 2-0: 11-3, 11-3 (21m)

REPORTS

Finals

No.1 Seeds ElShorbagy and El Welily Lift Oracle NetSuite Open Titles

Egypt’s Raneem El Welily and Mohamed ElShorbagy are the Oracle NetSuite Open 2019 champions after winning their respective clashes with compatriots Nour El Tayeb and Tarek Momen at the amazing Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco.

World No.2 Mohamed ElShorbagy lifted the Oracle NetSuite Open trophy for a second time, after he got the better of World No.3 Tarek Momen in a deciding fifth game at Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco.

The pair were meeting for the 21st time on the PSA World Tour, and it was Momen who got the better start, but ‘The Beast’ was able to fight back quickly to gain the momentum in the first game, taking it 11-6 in just nine minutes.

The tournament’s No.1 seed also had an advantage in the second game at 6-3, but ‘The Viper’ won seven of the next eight points to sit pretty at 10-7. However, ElShorbagy was able to save all three game balls to push it into a tie-break.

‘The Beast’ then saved another game ball, but Momen would eventually get over the line to win it 13-11 to tie the match. The third game was a reverse of the second, with the World No.3 having to save several game balls. ElShorbagy, though, was able to take over the line 11-9 to go 2-1 up in the match.

Momen had control throughout the fourth game, in his quest to send it into a decider. He won it 11-7, but he was unable to keep his levels of performance up in the final game, as ElShorbagy proved too much, winning the match in 70 minutes, and claiming his second Oracle NetSuite Open title, following his 2017 victory.

“The way Tarek has been playing, the consistency he has had is unbelievable. I think the way the match went. It was cat-and-mouse. We both kept doing different things and luckily I won the first game so I had the advantage,” ElShorbagy said.

“Matches like this, when they go to a fifth, anything can happen. Whoever has the better start in the fifth usually pulls through. Luckily, I had that better start today.

“We are going to play a lot this season and hopefully we will some more amazing matches for the fans to enjoy.”

In the women’s final, World No.1 Raneem El Welily cruised to victory as she defeated compatriot Nour El Tayeb in straight games to avenge her China Open final defeat from three weeks previous.

She needed just 23 minutes to complete the victory, her 13th over El Tayeb on the PSA World Tour, although the World No.5 did seem to be carrying some sort of shoulder issue throughout the match.

The first game was tight in the opening exchanges, but El Welily was able to find her game in the cold conditions in San Francisco to reel off six straight points to take the first 11-6.

She then started the second in the same imperious form, but the ‘Black Widow’ was able to fight her way back into it. However, the World No.1 reeled off a string of points again, five this time, to take the second game by the same scoreline.

The third game went much the same as the first, with a tight start to it before El Welily was able to power on to victory. She completed a hat-trick of 11-5 game wins to take the 3-0 victory, clinching the Oracle NetSuite Open title for the first time.

In winning the title, the World No.1 took revenge for losing in the final in San Francisco last year, and also on El Tayeb after missing out on the China Open title earlier this month, but the new champion did not think about that prior to this clash.

“I definitely felt good out there today! I just was trying to play all the way to the end and not to give any loose shots or give any cheap points. I wanted to try as hard as I could and I think that was what kept me going through to the end,” El Welily explained.

“Nour is a great shot maker and I know she goes for shots anytime. Whenever you give her a loose shot, she just kills it straight away so knowing that, I could not be relaxed on court. You are always on your toes to try and get up as far as possible, before moving quickly back to retrieve whatever she does next.

“Whenever I think about the word revenge, it does not do me good. I try to keep that out of my mind and keep calm. I try to just play, no matter what happened in the past. I try not to think about it too much because it never brings any good. Especially me, I tend to overthink too much anyway!

“We are all trying to do our best every tournament. Everyone is fighting out there, and I am just glad to be a winner out there today, and maybe she will be next time.”

The PSA World Tour moves across the United States to Philadelphia for the US Open, which takes place from 5-12 October.
 

Semi Finals

Oracle NetSuite Open Set For All-Egyptian Finals

An Egyptian quartet will feature in the finals of the Oracle NetSuite Open 2019, as Raneem El Welily, Nour El Tayeb, Mohamed ElShorbagy and Tarek Momen were all victorious in their semi final clashes in San Francisco.

World No.2 Mohamed ElShorbagy was the victor over his younger brother, Marwan ElShorbagy, in the most anticipated match of the night, advancing to the final for the third consecutive year.

The siblings had met 16 times on the PSA World Tour, with the older brother Mohamed holding the 13-3 advantage, and he continued that momentum into the first game, as he restricted the World No.11 to just four points.

The second game had more ups-and-downs in it, as Mohamed took a 3-0 lead, before Marwan reeled off five straight points to lead 5-3. Mohamed then did the same to lead 8-5, before the pair became deadlocked at 10-10 as Marwan saved two match balls.

The tie-break would go all the way to 17-15, with neither player giving an inch to their sibling on court. Mohamed eventually took the victory with his seventh match ball, booking his place in the final against compatriot Tarek Momen on Monday evening.

“I am really happy to reach the final for a third consecutive year. It is not easy and it is a very different tournament this year with the best-of-three,” Mohamed ElShorbagy admitted,

“You have to play with a very different tactic for each match. Matches are short and sharp, especially in the colder conditions. I am really happy with how I played and I always think the top guys have a way of adapting and here we are, myself and Tarek, the top two seeds are in the final together.

“Tarek is one of the most inspiring players I have ever come across because he has worked on himself year on year. He was a very good junior, you expect things to happen once you go to the pro tour. That did not happen with him, but he kept working hard until it started happening for him and I respect that a lot about him.

“We are good friends off court, but we go hard at each other on the court and that is what everyone will want us to do tomorrow and hopefully we can give everyone a good match”

In the women’s draw, World No.5 Nour El Tayeb caused the only upset on the glass court at Embarcadero Plaza, as she defeated World No.3 Camille Serme in three games to reach the final of the Oracle NetSuite Open.

The pair had met eleven times on the PSA World Tour prior to this clash, with El Tayeb holding the 6-5 advantage coming into San Francisco, after winning their last encounter at the Tournament of Champions in New York in 2018.

This battle between the pair started off in a very tight fashion, with neither player able to break away. However, it was the Egyptian that eventually broke loose, winning the last four points of the game to take it 11-7.

Serme came back fighting in the second game, moving out into a quick-fire 6-2 lead. El Tayeb managed pull herself back to within a point, but the Frenchwoman had enough firepower to take it 11-7, forcing a decider.

The third game was always under control for the Egyptian, though, as she got an early lead and never looked like relinquishing it. The World No.5 secured the victory in just over half an hour, booking her spot in a second consecutive final to start the 2019-2020 campaign.

“First of all, it is nice to win a match on this court. I haven’t been here for the last three years, so I am happy to come out with a win in the semi finals,” El Tayeb admitted.

“I have played a lot of squash over the last couple of days. I played for an hour this morning. I just wanted to have a little bit of soreness, like Camille, who was probably feeling a little bit sore from yesterday.

“I wanted to feel a little bit of that soreness this morning and to feel like I have muscles, you know. I have been resting for over 48 hours without a match but it was worth the wait.”

El Tayeb will face World No.1 Raneem El Welily in the final of the Oracle NetSuite Open after she defeated India’s Joshna Chinappa in straight games in the last match of the evening's action.

Tickets start from $25 and are available through the tournament’s official website. Stay up-to-date with news from the Oracle NetSuite Open by following the tournament on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
 

Quarter Finals

No.2 Seeds Momen and Serme Reach NetSuite Open Semi Finals

Egypt’s Tarek Momen and France’s Camille Serme are both into the semi finals of the Oracle NetSuite Open 2019 after winning their respective quarter final matches at Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco.

World No.3 Momen came from behind in his last eight clash with Wales No.1 Joel Makin to take the victory. The pair had only faced off once before on the PSA World Tour, with that meeting coming in the quarter finals of last year’s Qatar Classic, a match that the Egyptian won.

However, it was Makin that took his opportunities in the first game of this clash. He ran out into a 10-6 lead and although Momen saved one game ball, the Welshman was able to clinch the game to take the lead in the match.

‘The Viper’ came out fighting to start the second game though, as he won the first four points to take control. Makin battled back to level it at 5-5, but six straight points for the Egyptian sent the match into a deciding game.

Once again, it was Momen that took the early advantage in the third, running out into a 5-1 lead. However this time it would not be one he would relinquish, as he went on to take the victory, booking his place in the semi finals.

“At the end of the game, it seemed like I could not put the ball away. Wherever I put it, he just dived and got it. It made me a bit edgy,” Momen admitted.

“The one at 9-6, I thought I had won it. I don’t know how he got those two balls back and all of a sudden we are playing a let. It was a tough match because Joel has been a rising star on the tour. His physicality is unbelievable and he has been improving his game which makes him harder to beat.

“I am happy with the way I played after the first game. It is best-of-three and you cannot lose focus. I did not start as sharp as I wanted, but I am very happy to have been able to have got back into a rhythm, and it was a pretty exciting match for the crowd as well.

“It is always a pleasure to make it all the way. We [along with wife Raneem El Welily] are still looking for that double final appearance, but let’s just take it one day at a time!”

The Egyptian will face Colombia’s World No.9 Miguel Rodriguez in the last four of the tournament after he defeated Scotland’s Alan Clyne in straight games in the final match of the night.

In the women’s draw, French No.1 Camille Serme got the better of World No.9 Tesni Evans to reach the last four. The World No.3 had never lost to the Welshwoman on the PSA World Tour prior to this clash, having been successful in all ten of their previous meetings.

Once again in this one, it was the Frenchwoman that started the strong of the two, as she raced out into a 9-4 lead in the first, as the players both got used to the colder court conditions at Embarcadero Plaza.

However, Evans then won the next six points to lead 10-9. Both women then had to save game balls, as it went deep into a tie-break situation. Serme took it 15-13, but once again, it was the World No.9 that got the advantage in the second, leading 8-5 at one point. However, the Frenchwoman came fighting back to win it 11-9, booking her place in the semi finals.

“To be honest, it is cold right now. Event hough we have been running around. I know it is the same conditions for all the players, but it is tough. It is not easy to get your targets in the back,” Serme admitted.

“As I said, we are running but I am still cold. I was just trying to stay positive despite the conditions. If you find a good shot, it is pretty hard to get it back.

“She had some amazing shots that, even though, I felt good with my legs, I could not get to it because it is so dead on court. I was a bit lucky with some bounces as well, but I am glad to be through.

“I am very excited to be through. Last year I did not make it to the glass court, so I am happy to have made it this year. I have added another round on that as well which is a positive so I am looking forward to tomorrow.”

Serme will face Egypt’s World No.5 Nour El Tayeb on Sunday night, who progressed to the semi finals following the withdrawal of United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy due to an adductor injury.
 Quarter FFinals Top Half

World No.1 El Welily Ends Defending Champion Perry’s Reign

Egypt’s Raneem El Welily is into the semi finals of the Oracle NetSuite Open 2019 after knocking out the defending two-time champion Sarah-Jane Perry in straight games on the glass court at the spectacular Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco.

The pair had met ten times on the PSA World Tour, with their last meeting being that final in San Francisco in 2018, where Perry won an epic 57 minute battle 3-2. This clash started in a tight fashion, with neither player giving an inch.

It would be the World No.1 that would go on to take it 11-8, though, after reeling off a string of points in the latter stages of the game. From the start of the second game, it looked as if it would be finished in an instant, as El Welily took the first four points with consummate ease.

However, Perry fought back to take a 7-5 lead, only for the Egyptian to go on another run of four straight points. She went on to take the victory and avenge her defeat from this exact court a year ago.

“It just shows how strong the women’s tour is. Everyone is such a strong contender to win every tournament and everyone has chances to win,” El Welily said.

“I had to be prepared today because SJ is never an easy match, but I am glad it was 2-0. I almost lost that second game but I recovered well to get off in two. The court is a little dead so hitting it hard is one way to get it to the back. It is not the only way but this is what I tried to do today and I am glad it worked.

“I love it [San Francisco]. It is absolutely fantastic and the atmosphere here is amazing as always. The weather has also been great since we arrived as well!”

El Welily will now face India’s Joshna Chinappa in the semi finals of the tournament, after she got the better of New Zealand’s World No.6 Joelle King in three games.

 

In the men’s draw, Egypt’s World No.2 Mohamed ElShorbagy is through to the last four of the tournament after defeating Australia’s Ryan Cuskelly in straight games.

The pair had met five times previous on the PSA World Tour, with both players having won one of the previous two encounters, while the Egyptian had the 4-1 advantage.

Cuskelly had beaten the tournament’s No.1 seed at the Tournament of Champions in January 2018, and ElShorbagy had studied that match to get the upper hand over the left-hander. The Egyptian came out firing, winning the first five points, and although the Aussie tried to fight back, ‘The Beast’ had too much power and took the first game 11-5.

The World No.20 tried to fight back in the second game, and went out into an early lead, but it was not to be, as ElShorbagy came firing back to take the victory in just 20 minutes.

“He is a great player, he hits the ball really nice and at the Tournament of Champions when he beat me, he played such unbelievable squash to beat me,” ElShorbagy explained.

“There are times when you lose matches because you have not played very well, but there are also times when you lose matches because your opponent has got the right tactics. I had to study that match to work out what happened, so I am happy that I was able to beat him today.

“Me and Marwan played each other in Shanghai, we have played each other so much. We have played against each other in so many venues, but this will be the first time we play against each other in this venue and I hope it will be a good match.”

The World No.2 will now face younger brother Marwan ElShorbagy in the last four in San Francisco, after the ‘Jackal’ overcame Germany’s Raphael Kandra in a thrilling encounter, as he saved four match balls in the deciding game before taking the victory.

Tickets start from $25 and are available through the tournament’s official website. Stay up-to-date with news from the Oracle NetSuite Open by following the tournament on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Round Two

Defending Champion Perry Safely Through To Quarter Finals

England’s World No.7 Sarah-Jane Perry is through to the quarter finals of the 2019 Oracle NetSuite Open after defeating compatriot Emily Whitlock at the Bay Club in San Francisco.

Perry, who won this event in both 2017 and 2018, needed just 18 minutes to win her second round clash, as she fought back to beat her fellow Englishwoman in both games.

The pair were meeting for the second time in three weeks, having faced off in the quarter-finals of the Open de France – Nantes, where the World No.7 got the better of Whitlock in another best-of-three clash.

Once again, Whitlock started the stronger of the two, but it was the World No.7 that was able to win the first 11-6. The same pattern occurred in the second game, as Perry used a slightly different tactic to normal but taking pace off the ball. And it worked to her advantage.

“She played really well against me a couple of weeks ago in Nantes. I felt a little flat in that tournament, but I have been feeling better in between, and I just tried to come out and play with a little bit of confidence,” Perry said.

“As both games went on, I started to find my way and my rhythm and momentum. Hopefully tomorrow, I can actually start well and not wait until halfway through the game.

“It feels a lot like last year. I think I was the No.5 seed last year as well so it is very much the same. Every opponent was tough last year and that is the same again this year. You are never thinking about any rounds further ahead, just the one that is right in front of you.”

The tournament’s No.5 seed advances through to the quarter finals, where she will face World No.1 Raneem El Welily in a repeat of last year’s Oracle NetSuite Open final.

The World No.1 had to come from a game down to defeat United States No.2 Olivia Blatchford Clyne, eventually winning out 9-11, 11-5, 11-5 to seal her spot in the last eight.

In the men’s draw, the unseeded Raphael Kandra overcame compatriot, and World No.5, Simon Rösner, in the last match of the night at the University Club.

Despite being from the same nation, this was only the third time that the pair had met each other on the PSA World Tour, with Rösner having been successful in the previous two.

This meeting started off in a very tight fashion, with neither player wanting to give an inch in the opening exchanges. However, Kandra was able to take the first 11-9.

The second was slightly easier for the German No.2, who reached the semi-finals of the British Open in 2018. He secured the victory with an 11-7 scoreline in the second, setting up a clash with Egypt’s Marwan ElShorbagy in the last eight.

“Two days ago when I beat Iker [Pajares Bernabeu], I had a similar strategy of precision and pressure, and it worked quite well even though it was a different court at the Bay Club,” Kandra said.

“With the new format, you get punished for your bad shots or when you go for a silly shot. Almost 50% of those opportunities for him went into the tin luckily for me.
“I was trying to stay as mentally sharp as I could. With a maximum of three games, physically you can push yourself, but in my head I had to stay sharp and make the precise shots.”

Elsewhere on day three, Alan Clyne got the better of No.7 seed Declan James in a terrific three game tussle. The Scot won the first on a tie-break, but the Englishman fought back in the second.

However, it would be the World No.44 that took the victory, after he won the deciding game 11-5. Clyne will now face World No.9 Miguel Rodriguez in the last eight at Embarcadero Plaza.

The top two seeds, Egypt’s Mohamed ElShorbagy and Tarek Momen, safely made it through to the last eight of the tournament, defeating France’s Mathieu Castagnet and Mexico’s Cesar Salazar, respectively.

The action moves to the spectacular glass court in San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza for the quarter finals and onwards, with play there beginning tomorrow.

Tickets start from $25 and are available through the tournament’s official website. Stay up-to-date with news from the Oracle NetSuite Open by following the tournament on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Round One Lower Half

Mexico’s Salazar Twins Advance To Second Round Of Oracle NetSuite Open

Both Arturo and Cesar Salazar are through to the second round of the Oracle NetSuite Open after defeating Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi and Faraz Khan, respectively, at the Bay Club in San Francisco.

Arturo Salazar, the older of the pair by just two minutes, faced off against Qatar’s Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi for only the third time on the PSA World Tour, and the Mexican went a game down to the World No.43.

The Qatari No.1 took the first game 11-6, as he showed his control in the match, but a quick start for the Mexican in the second put him back in contention. The World No.42 went on to take it 11-3, and he took the momentum into the deciding salvo.

He won the third 11-7 to finish the match off in under half an hour, securing his first victory over Tamimi on the PSA World Tour at the third attempt. With the win, Salazar will now face Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez on Thursday.

“Abdulla is a top player, so I tried to just play the match point-by-point. I knew I had to fight, so I just tried to run and tried to finish it, and I got it done,” Salazar said.

“I changed my start because in the first game it was very bad, and Abdulla played very well. I changed my play and I tried to stay patient, and I think that was vital in getting the victory today.”

Meanwhile, younger brother Cesar also needed to come back from a game down, as he got the better of American wildcard Faraz Khan to reach the second round of the PSA Gold event.

The American allowed Salazar just four points in the first game, as he played well above his World Ranking of No.122. However, from there on, the Mexican was able to wrestle back the momentum.

He follows his brother into the last 16 of the tournament, thanks to winning the second and third games against a tiring Khan, and will now play No.2 seed Tarek Momen on Thursday.

“I came from behind and I felt I had to win, but tomorrow I need to be a lot better. Faraz is a good player. He has improved a lot, but I still need to play better squash tomorrow.” Salazar said.

“I tried to start to feel the ball a bit more, but my movement and my shots needed to improve for the second and third game. However, it is hard with best-of-three, as you feel more pressure to start with.”

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Scotland’s Alan Clyne got the better of England’s George Parker, while Mostafa Asal beat Mohamed ElSherbini in an all-Egyptian clash.

In the women’s draw, Hollie Naughton, Milou van der Heijden, Salma Hany and Nele Gilis all won their first round clashes at the Bay Club to move into the last 16.

Tickets start from $25 and are available through the tournament’s official website. Stay up-to-date with news from the Oracle NetSuite Open by following the tournament on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Round One To Half

United States’ Fiechter and Blatchford Clyne Through to Oracle NetSuite Open Second Round

The American duo of Olivia Fiechter and Olivia Blatchford Clyne are through to the second round of the Oracle NetSuite Open after victories in San Francisco.

World No.39 Fiechter saw off Belgium’s Tinne Gilis in the first round, overcoming her higher-ranked opponent in straight games on the traditional court at the Bay Club.

The American had full control of the game, despite the Belgian being ranked twelve places higher. Fiechter took the first 11-6, before then winning the match after the second, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

The World No.39 is through to the second round of the Oracle NetSuite Open, where she will face the tournament’s No.4 seed, New Zealand’s Joelle King, on Thursday afternoon.

“I just came out of university and I love the idea of playing for a team. Having people out here that I know and love and being able to pull out a win for them makes it all the more special,” Fiechter said.

“I suffered a partial tear in my left quad but obviously it could not have come at a better time. The beginning of my summer was just recovery and giving it time to heal. Then I had some physical therapy and it became a straightforward process.

“I am really excited because I have never played Joelle [King]. I have grown up watching her play and she is an incredible player. It is a really exciting opportunity and I am looking forward to it.”

Over at the SquashZone venue, Olivia Blatchford Clyne got the better of Scotland’s Lisa Aitken in straight games to book her place in the second round.

The American No.2 will now face the World No.1 in the last 16 of the Oracle NetSuite Open. She will meet Egypt’s Raneem El Welily on Thursday afternoon.

“It’s a good feeling because usually it’s no that way. I was feeling good, I’m happy to be back in San Francisco,” Blatchford Clyne said

“This is my first time at SquashZone and it’s so cool, this place is awesome. We need more places like this all over the map. But I’m happy to be back and definitely happy with my performance.”

Elsewhere on the first day of the tournament, England’s Emily Whitlock and Frenchwoman Melissa Alves made it through to the last 16 of the event.

In the men’s draw, there was a quartet of different nationalities that made it through. Germany’s Raphael Kandra and France’s Mathieu Castagnet are the two Europeans through to the second round.

New Zealander Campbell Grayson and Egypt’s Karim Ali Fathi also booked their places in the last 16 in San Francisco.

Tickets start from $25 and are available through the tournament’s official website. Stay up-to-date with news from the Oracle NetSuite Open by following the tournament on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Previews

Draws Released for Oracle NetSuite Open as Squash Returns to San Francisco

The draws for September’s Oracle NetSuite Open, PSA World Tour Gold tournament have been released today, with United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy and World Championship runner-up Nour El Tayeb predicted to re-ignite their burgeoning rivalry at San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza.

Held on the glass Squash Engine Court in the shadow of San Francisco’s iconic Ferry Building, the Oracle NetSuite Open will be staged between September 24-30, and 2015 champion Sobhy (above) will be the highest ranked US player in action throughout the week.

The 26-year-old from Boston is fresh off the back of a triple gold medal winning campaign at the Pan American Games in Lima and receives a bye in round one, meaning she opens up her tournament against either Egypt’s Mariam Metwally or Milou van der Heijden of the Netherlands in the second round.

A win there could see her face World No.5 Nour El Tayeb in the quarter-finals in what would be their first meeting of the 2019/20 campaign. They played out a trio of enthralling five-game battles last season - with Sobhy winning two of them - and they are seeded to square off in an enthralling last eight encounter.

The winner of that match is seeded to play World Champion Nour El Sherbini - who makes her Oracle NetSuite Open debut - in the semi-finals, while World No.1 Raneem El Welily is predicted to play defending champion Sarah-Jane Perry in the quarter-finals on the opposite side of the draw.

Meanwhile, wildcard Haley Mendez of the USA takes on Belgium’s Nele Gilis in round one, with the victor set to play El Sherbini.

In the men’s draw, 2017 winner Mohamed ElShorbagy is seeded to play Germany’s Simon Rösner in the semi-finals, with World Championship runner-up Tarek Momen and World No.9 Miguel Angel Rodriguez seeded to play in the semi-final fixture on the bottom side of the draw.

Men’s United States No.1 Todd Harrity begins his tournament against Egyptian up-and-comer Mostafa Asal and will look to keep up the form that saw him win two gold medals in Lima.

Stamford, CT-based World No.121 Faraz Khan is the men’s wildcard and he will play Mexico’s Cesar Salazar in round one, with a last 16 berth against Momen up for grabs for the winner.

This year’s Oracle NetSuite Open boasts record prize money, with $242,000 split equally between the men’s and women’s events, while a best-of-three games scoring format will be used up to and including the semi-finals. The final will revert to the traditional best of five scoring used elsewhere on the PSA Tour.

All round one and two matches will be split between the Bay Club San Francisco, SquashZone, the Olympic Club and The University Club. All matches from the quarter-finals onwards will be held on the Squash Engine Court at Embarcadero Plaza.

Tickets start from $25 and are available through the tournament’s official website. Stay up-to-date with news from the Oracle NetSuite Open by following the tournament on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Fixtures from the Squash Engine Court at the Embarcadero Plaza will be broadcast live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour.

2019 Oracle NetSuite Open - Men’s Draw
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) [bye]
Ramit Tandon (IND) v [9/16] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[9/16] Cameron Pilley (AUS) v Campbell Grayson (NZL)
[8] Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) [bye]
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) [bye]
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) v [9/16] Tom Richards (ENG)
[9/16] Raphael Kandra (GER) v Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP)
[3] Simon Rösner (GER) [bye]
[4] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) [bye]
Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) v [9/16] Arturo Salazar (MEX)
[9/16] George Parker (ENG) v Alan Clyne (SCO)
[7] Declan James (ENG) [bye]
[6] Joel Makin (WAL) [bye]
Todd Harrity (USA) v [9/16] Mostafa Asal (EGY)
[9/16] Cesar Salazar (MEX) v [WC] Faraz Khan (USA)
[2] Tarek Momen (EGY) [bye]


2019 Oracle NetSuite Open - Women’s Draw
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) [bye]
Lisa Aitken (SCO) v [9/16] Olivia Blatchford Clyne (USA)
[9/16] Emily Whitlock (ENG) v Danielle Letourneau (CAN)
[6] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) [bye]
[5] Joelle King (NZL) [bye]
Tinne Gilis (BEL) v [9/16] Millie Tomlinson (ENG)
[9/16] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v Olivia Fiechter (USA)
[3] Camille Serme (FRA) [bye]
[4] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) [bye]
Hollie Naughton (CAN) v [9/16] Rachael Grinham (AUS)
[9/16] Mariam Metwally (EGY) v Milou van der Heijden (NED)
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) [bye]
[8] Tesni Evans (WAL) [bye]
Coline Aumard (FRA) v [9/16] Salma Hany (EGY)
[9/16] Nele Gilis (BEL) v [WC] Haley Mendez (USA)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) [bye

Oracle NetSuite Open Welcomes Top-Class Field to San Francisco

A world-class field will descend on San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza between September 24-30 as stars such as women’s World No.1 Raneem El Welily and men’s World No.2 Mohamed ElShorbagy battle it out for the prestigious PSA World Tour Gold titles.

This year’s Oracle NetSuite Open features its largest prize fund in its 10-year history, with $242,000 split equally between the men’s and women’s events, while a best-of-three games scoring format will be used up to and including the semi-finals. The final will revert to the traditional best of five scoring used elsewhere on the tour.

The increase in prize money has seen the tournament attract arguably its overall strongest ever draw, with eight of the world’s top nine female players in attendance.

El Welily headlines the draw alongside reigning World Champion Nour El Sherbini, French World No.3 Camille Serme, Egypt’s World No.4 Nour El Tayeb, Kiwi World No.5 Joelle King, defending champion Sarah-Jane Perry, United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy and Welsh World No.9 Tesni Evans.

Triple Pan American Games gold medallist Sobhy - the 2015 Oracle NetSuite Open champion - is joined by fellow Americans Olivia Blatchford Clyne - who won a gold and silver medal at the Pan American Games - Olivia Fiechter and wildcard Haley Mendez.

2017 winner Mohamed ElShorbagy tops the men’s draw and will compete alongside fellow top 10 players Tarek Momen, Simon Rösner and Miguel Rodriguez.

ElShorbagy’s younger brother, Marwan, also features, while Welshman Joel Makin, England No.1 Declan James and Australia’s Ryan Cuskelly are the other top eight seeded players.

USA's Todd Harrity - who won two gold medals at the Pan American Games in Lima last week - also appears in San Francisco, with fellow US player Faraz Khan taking the wildcard spot.

"The Oracle NetSuite Open is one of the most highly-anticipated tournaments on the PSA Tour and I’m delighted to see that this year’s event features arguably our strongest ever draw," said Tournament Promoter John Nimick.

"To have all but one of the world’s top nine women in attendance, in addition to a host of world-class talent in the men’s draw, is indicative of the ever-increasing prestige of the tournament, and I look forward to welcoming all players to San Francisco in September."

All round one and two matches will be split between the Bay Club San Francisco, SquashZone, the Olympic Club and The University Club. All matches from the quarter-finals onwards will be held on the Squash Engine Court at Embarcadero Plaza.

Tickets start from $25 and are available through the tournament’s official website. Stay up-to-date with news from the Oracle NetSuite Open by following the tournament on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Fixtures from the Squash Engine Court at the Embarcadero Plaza will be broadcast live on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour.
 

 History

2018

2017 2016 2015

 

 Schedule

FIRST ROUND
24-25 Sep
SECOND ROUND
26-27 SEP
QUARTERS
28 SEP
SEMIS
29 SEP
FINAL
30 SEP
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