The 2025 edition of the Hong Kong Squash Open continued today with eight Round Two matches from the top half of the draws, all on the all-glass Centre Court at HK Squash Centre.
It was a bitty day, with two men’s matches not happening die to injury withdrawals, with mixed results for the up and coming players as Jonah Bryant recorded a notable win while Mohamad Zakaria lost out to Victor Crouin.
The women’s matches went to seeding as Siva Subramaniam, Hania El Hammamy and Nour ElSherbini advanced while Sabrina Sobhy underlined her return.
Women’s Round Two (top) :
[7] Siva Subramaniam (Mas) 3-1 Melissa Alves (Fra) 11-8, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7 (32m)
[1] Hania El Hammamy (Egy) 3-1 Tesni Murphy (Wal) 11-6, 11-2, 7-11, 11-8 (43m)
[3] Nour ElSherbini (Egy) 3-0 Hana Ramadan (Egy) 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (27m)
Sabrina Sobhy (Usa) 3-0 Kenzy Ayman (Egy) 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 (21m)
Men’s Round Two (top) :
Leonel Cardenas (Mex) w/o [3] Joel Makin (Wal) Joel withdraws injured
Jonah Bryant (Eng) 3-1 [6] Mohamed ElShorbagy (Eng) 11-7, 11-7, 11-13, 11-5 (50m)
[1] Mostafa Asal (Egy) w/o Mazen Hesham (Egy) Mazen withdraws injured
[7] Victor Crouin (Fra) 3-0 Mohamad Zakaria (Egy) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 (49m)
Siva and Hania first through to the quarters
Siva Subramaniam and Hania El Hammamy are the first players to reach the quarter-finals after four game victories over Melissa Alves and Tesni Murphy in today’s opening matches.
[7] Siva Subramaniam (Mas) 3-1 Melissa Alves (Fra) 11-8, 5-11, 11-5, 11-7 (32m)
[1] Hania El Hammamy (Egy) 3-1 Tesni Murphy (Wal) 11-6, 11-2, 7-11, 11-8 (43m)
After a confident start from Alves, Subramaniam imposed her game to take the lead, and although the Frenchwoman levelled, it was the Malaysian back in charge for the final two games.
“I played Melissa last week in the HKFC Open and it’s always a bit tricky when you play someone twice in a row because they’ll know how to play you even better,” the Malaysian said. “I don’t think I was playing my best squash, but I just tried to stay positive and keep the rally going … I’m happy to be winning as these players are all very strong.”
Top seed Hammamy was in charge in the opening two games, but Wales’ Murphy fought back to take the third. Hammamy requested a new ball, which seemed to do the trick as she opened up a lead in the fourth. Murphy fought back again though, led 7-6 until the world #1 made a final surge into the quarter-finals.
Bryant gets first win over ElShorbagy – changing of the English guard ?
Jonah Bryant recorded his first win over Mohamed ElShorbagy, the sixth seed in a win that could signify the changing of the established order in the England ranks.
Leonel Cardenas (Mex) w/o [3] Joel Makin (Wal) Joel withdraws injured
Jonah Bryant (Eng) 3-1 [6] Mohamed ElShorbagy (Eng) 11-7, 11-7, 11-13, 11-5 (50m)
Bryant lead throughout the first two games, taking them both to seven, and held two match balls at the end of the third. ElShorbagy saved those and extended the match, but the comeback never materialised as Bryant raced ahead in the fourth, taking the final few points quickly.
In the quarters he’ll face Mexico’s Leonel Cardenas, who advanced after the injury withdrawal of HKFC champion Joel Makin.
“I’m really happy, this is my third big quarter-final this year and obviously a tough opponent today in Mohamed. It’s always a big match coming through against a legend of the sport like Mohamed,” said Jonah.
“It’s a massive opportunity for both me and Leonel. I was in this situation in Qatar a couple of months ago, so we’ll both give it everything and we will see who comes out on top.”
Sherbini and Sabrina breeze into Quarter-finals
Comfortable victories for Nour ElSherbini and Sabrina Sobhy in the evening’s women’s matches.
[3] Nour ElSherbini (Egy) 3-0 Hana Ramadan (Egy) 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 (27m)
Sabrina Sobhy (Usa) 3-0 Kenzy Ayman (Egy) 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 (21m)
2018 champion Sherbini always had the edge over compatriot Hana Ramadan, who threatened a comeback in the third game before Sherbini snuffed out the threat with a couple of trademark winners. Sobhy was never in trouble against Kenzy Ayman, looking assured and with big sis Amanda watching she confirmed that she was in good form and looks a real threat.
Victor despatches Mohamed as Moustafa walks through to quarters
Seventh seed Victor Crouin beat World Junior Champion Mohamad Zakaria in straight games, setting up a QF with top seed Mostafa Asal who received a walkover after the injury withdrawal of Mazen Hesham.
[1] Mostafa Asal (Egy) w/o Mazen Hesham (Egy) Mazen withdraws injured
[7] Victor Crouin (Fra) 3-0 Mohamad Zakaria (Egy) 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 (49m)
France’s Victor Crouin completed Day Two with a straight-games victory over World Junior Champion Mohamad Zakaria that few saw coming. Crouin had won their only previous meeting, 14 months ago, in five games and 74 minutes and Zakaria’s improvement since then suggested another gruelling encounter.
Not to be though as Crouin started strongly, controlling the pace and the rallies as he took a two game lead. The third was close, but the final four points all went the Frenchman’s way via the referee – two lets upgraded to strokes on appeal, a stroke for poor movement by Zakaria, and a pretty standard stroke to finish the match.
