Round Three concluded today with eight matches from the bottom half of the draws, eight more quarter-final spots to be claimed.
Siva gatecrashes the last eight as top seeds prevail
The first match of the day produced what turned out to be the only upset of the day as unseeded Sivasangari Subramaniam despatched 9/16 seed Hollie Naughton to become the only unseeded player left in the draws.
She’ll play fourth seed Nele Gilis, who beat SJ Perry for the first time, in the next round, while Egyptian duo Hania El Hammamy and Rowan Elaraby both won in straight games to set up the next chapter in their lnng-running rivalry.
In the men’s event Marwan and Mohamed ElShorbagy both progressed to set up a rematch of their brotherly clash in Singapore, while Diego Elias profited from injury to Karim Abdel Gawas to set up a meeting with Paul Coll who ended French interest as he beat Victor Crouin in the last match of the day.
Reports, quotes and photos below the results …
Siva Subramaniam (Mas) 3-0 [9/16] Hollie Naughton (Can) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (22m)
[4] Nele Gilis (Bel) 3-2 [9/16] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) 11-3, 11-7, 6,11, 10-12, 11-2 (65m)
[8] Rowan Elaraby (Egy) 3-0 [9/16] Aifa Azman (Mas) 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (28m)
[2] Hania El Hammamy (Egy) 3-0 Zeina Mickawy (Egy) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (35m)
[7] Marwan ElShorbagy (Eng) 3-0 Auguste Dussourd (Fra) 14-12, 18-16, 11-9 (54m)
[4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (Eng) 3-0 Leandro Romiglio (Arg) 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (24m)
[5] Paul Coll (Nzl) 3-1 [9/16] Victor Crouin (Fra) 11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5 (54m)
[2] Diego Elias (Per) 3-0 [9/16] Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy) 11-4, 7-2 rtd (21m)
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Reports and Reaction
Siva storms into quarters
Siva Subramaniam (Mas) 3-0 [9/16] Hollie Naughton (Can) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7 (22m)
Asian Games gold medalist and HKFC Champion Sivasangari Subramaniam became the first unseeded player to reach this year’s quarter-finals as she eased past Canada’s Hollie Naughton in straight games.
In charge from the opening rally, the Malaysian was rarely under pressure as she eased into the last eight.
“I’m really pleased with how I played today against Hollie – she had a big win against Olivia Weaver. In the previous rounds we’ve played on the normal courts and to shift to the glass court, it can be a bit tricky. Whoever adapts to it will win the match and I think I adapted well to it, I took the lead in most of the sets so I’m happy to get through to the quarters.
“This court is a bit dead compared to the normal courts. I managed to find my length and depth on the court and when I had the opportunity to go short I took my shots and that worked pretty well.”
Nele gets her first win over SJ … eventually
[4] Nele Gilis (Bel) 3-2 [9/16] Sarah-Jane Perry (Eng) 11-3, 11-7, 6,11, 10-12, 11-2 (65m)
Belgium’s Nele Gilis had never SJ Perry in four attempts, but after dominating the first two games it looked like that elusive win was on its way. Not as easily as that though, as SJ fought back to level the match, saving two match balls in the fourth.
It was all Nele in the fifth tough, and that win, and a spot in the quarters, was hers …
“That was my first time beating SJ and there’s a reason for that – she’s so tricky around the court and I think I was finding my targets well in the first two games.
“I knew in the back of my mind that she’s a fighter and she can come back. I lost my length and you can’t do that against her because she’ll pick you off and that’s what she did. All I can say is I’m proud that I managed to find a way to win it in the fifth because it’s so tough against SJ.
“It’s hard to find any momentum when it’s stop start and I think that favoured her a bit more. I tried to keep focus and stay in my own bubble and focus on the next point every time, but she made it tough for me.”
It’s a tough three-nil for Marwan
[7] Marwan ElShorbagy (Eng) 3-0 Auguste Dussourd (Fra) 14-12, 18-16, 11-9 (54m)
Three-nil victories don’t come much tougher than this – Marwan ElShorbagy squeezed past France’s Auguste Dussourd. Marwan was 9-6 up in the first and 7-2 in the second, but ended up having to save game balls in both before taking them in extras points.
Marwan just about kept his nose in front in the third, taking the win on his first match ball.
“I’m happy with the way I played – I’m glad I kept my composure as it’s never easy to play Auguste, he’s a great player, he knows how to win and it’s always hard to play against someone who knows how to win,” he said.
“You can never be comfortable, I think I was up in most of the games but he did well to keep coming back in the first and the second.
“In the third I wanted to keep that lead and he was still managing to come back. I’m happy with the way I played but it needs to be more consistent.”
Mohamed races through to Sibling Quarter
[4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (Eng) 3-0 Leandro Romiglio (Arg) 11-3, 11-3, 11-6 (24m)
If Marwan took his time, then Mohamed wasn’t hanging about as he demolished Leandro Romiglio in just 24 minutes, setting up a quarter-final against Marwan, a repeat of their clash in Singapore just two weeks ago which Marwan took in five.
“Me and Leandro trained together in Prague and we know each other’s games very well. I’m really happy to win – it was played at a fast pace as I know it was his first time on this court and it’s a tricky one when you’ve not been on this court before.
“It’s a very unique court with the lighting, the colours and how much it’s indoor. It’s a very different court, but he’s had two good wins against Greg Lobban and Adrian Waller. I’m happy for him to see him doing well like that.
“It was a fast pace at the beginning of the match as I needed to get some work into his lungs and legs a bit. I’m happy I got through in the end.”
Nania comes through all-Egyptian clash in three
[3] Hania El Hammamy (Egy) 3-0 Zeina Mickawy (Egy) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (35m)
Defending champion Hania El Hammamy moved into the quarter-finals with a straight games win over compatriot Zeina Mickawy, but it wasn’t all plain sailing for the second seed.
Hania was always ahead in the first two games but had to claw back an early deficit in the third, levelling at 6-all before going on to take the win.
quote to follow …
Rowan sets up quarter-final against Hania
[8] Rowan Elaraby (Egy) 3-0 [9/16] Aifa Azman (Mas) 11-7, 11-5, 11-9 (28m)
Rowan Elaraby completed a straight games win over Malaysia’s Aifa Azman to set up a mouthwatering quarter-final against Hania El Hammamy, renewing their junior and senior rivalry.
Azman stayed in touching distance for most of the match, but was never able to close down the early leads that Elaraby took in each game, finally achieving parity at 9-all in the third but Rowan was in no mood for an extended match.
“I’m really happy with my performance today, I think I played very well. It was a little bit messy at times, but I’m glad that I am through.
“I love playing short and I think I did them well today and I hope that I can play my best in the next rounds.
“I’m going to call my coaches, talk to them about my game plan against Hania and hopefully I can play my best squash and come away with the win tomorrow.”
Gawad injury puts Elias through
[2] Diego Elias (Per) 3-0 [9/16] Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy) 11-4, 7-2 rtd (21m)
There was a sad ending to the penultimate match of the round as Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawd had to be helped off court after suffering a leg injury during the second game of his match with second seed Diego Elias.
The Peruvian had dominated the first and was well ahead in the second when Gawad collapsed and the physio was called for. It was quickly determined that Gawad would be unable to continue.
Everyone wishes Karim a speedy recovery …
“It’s never nice to win like this. I think I was playing pretty well, I was feeling good on court, but it’s never nice to win like this. I hope Karim gets through the injury quick, and I hope to see him back soon.
“I feel really good right now in my game. I felt good in Singapore last week, and then this week I played very well in the second round and today I felt pretty good, so I’m excited for the next few matches.”
Coll grabs the finals quarter-final spot
[5] Paul Coll (Nzl) 3-1 [9/16] Victor Crouin (Fra) 11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5 (54m)
The last match of the day – of the round – saw New Zealand’s Paul Coll overcome spirited resistance from France’ Victor Crouin. The Kiwi edged the first game but a bright start to the second from Crouin was enough for him to level the match.
Coll resumed control in the final two games though, setting up a quarter-final with Diego Elias.
“We hadn’t played on the glass court before, so I just took a little bit to start seeing the ball. I was happy with how I was hitting it, but I would like to be a little ore aggressive with my movement and just try and see it a little earlier tomorrow.
“I thought the second ran away from me, but I used it in the right way to come back in the third, become more aggressive and pin him at the back and put some straight drops in.”
“Diego and I had a great match at the U.S. Open, so I’m sure he’s out for my blood, but I’m feeling good and I’m going to try and back up that U.S. Open win.”
Today’s Mini-Gallery (lots more on the full Gallery)
