PSA: Qualifier Shoukry makes Windy City semis

February 2, 2013 - 8:12am
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Well, here’s the venue. Sadly no pictures have been supplied by the tournament.

Qualifier Shoukry Makes Windy City Semis

2 February 2013

RESULTS: PSA International 25 Metro Squash Windy City Open, Chicago, USA

Quarter-finals:
[1] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 (45m)
[Q] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt [4] Max Lee (HKG) 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-7 (90m)
[3] Alan Clyne (SCO) bt [Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) 7-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-13, 11-6 (67m)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-2, 11-3, 11-4 (25m)

Egyptian qualifier Andrew Wagih Shoukry fought for 90 minutes in the quarter-finals of the Metro Squash Windy City Open to pull off an impressive upset over fourth seed Max Lee to reach the last four of the long-established PSA World Tour International 25 squash event at the University Club of Chicago in Chicago, USA.

In a clash described as ‘the match of the tournament’, underdog Shoukry showed no signs of his 74-minute battle 24 hours earlier as he took the first two games against his Hong Kong opponent ranked 32 in the world – then had two match-balls at 10-8 in the third.

“But Lee responded with two nicks in a row and then took the game,” said spokesman William James. The 22-year-old from Cairo began to look more and more tired as Lee took the fourth game to draw level.

“But somehow, he not only continued, but continued to win rallies,” James continued. “At 7-7 in the fifth Lee hit Shoukry in the head with the butt of his racquet, and Shoukry looked hurt. But when he stood up, he hit a winner, and Lee followed with two straight tins, which was completely out of character for him. 10-8…two more match balls…an unreachable cross-court…it was over…standing ovation.”

The shock 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-7 win takes world No57 Shoukry on to face top seed Borja Golan for a place in the final. Spaniard Golan, ranked 10 in the world, dismissed Egyptian teenager Karim Ali Fathi 11-6, 11-6, 11-3.

The other semi will see third-seeded Scot Alan Clyne take on in-form South African Stephen Coppinger.

World No27 Clyne ended qualifier Matthew Karwalski‘s run, beating the Australian 7-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-13, 11-6.

Second seed Coppinger, who earlier in the day became his country’s first world top 20 player for over three decades, took just 25 minutes to quash Mexican Cesar Salazar 11-2, 11-3, 11-4.

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Borja Golan (ESP) v [Q] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [3] Alan Clyne (SCO)

For all the latest Tour news: www.psaworldtour.com

Qualifiers Karwalski & Shoukry In Chicago Shake-Up

1 February 2013

RESULTS: PSA International 25 Metro Squash Windy City Open, Chicago, USA

1st round:
[1] Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-5, 11-3, 13-11 (52m)
Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) bt Martin Knight (NZL) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 (38m)
[Q] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY) bt Shahier Razik (CAN) 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5 (74m)
[4] Max Lee (HKG) bt Campbell Grayson (NZL) 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10 (72m)
[3] Alan Clyne (SCO) bt Leo Au (HKG) 11-2, 14-12, 11-9 (42m)
[Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS) bt Omar Abdel Aziz (EGY) 11-9, 11-4, 11-6 (37m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [Q] Charles Sharpes (ENG) 11-4, 1-11, 15-13, 11-5 (59m)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) bt Fred Reid (CAN) 11-2, 11-4, 11-2 (20m)

Qualifiers Matthew Karwalski and Andrew Wagih Shoukry upset the form book in the opening round of the Metro Squash Windy City Open, the long-established PSA World Tour International 25 squash event at the University Club of Chicago in Chicago, USA.

Australian Karwalski, a 27-year-old from New South Wales, took out experienced Egyptian Omar Abdel Aziz, ranked 46 in the world.

“Karwalski was nearly flawless in stopping the tough Egyptian,” said event spokesman William James. “Aziz seemed out of sorts as his shots and strategy weren’t coming off, but all credit goes to Karwalski for applying basic pressure, taking the ball early, winning points on volleys, drops and boasts, using every inch of the court and rising to the occasion.”

The 11-9, 11-4, 11-6 victory takes world No58 Karwalski through to a quarter-final clash with third-seeded Scot Alan Clyne. The world No28 from Edinburgh denied birthday boy Leo Au a place in the last eight, beating the Hong Kong opponent on the eve of his 23rd birthday 11-2, 14-12, 11-9.

But Egyptian Shoukry, lower-ranked than fellow qualifier Karwalski, also recorded a shock win when he beat experienced Canadian and fellow Cairo-born Shahier Razik 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5 in 74 minutes.

“Razik didn’t apply enough pressure in game one, responding more than initiating, but somewhere in game two he gained confidence,” explained James. “This led Shoukry to force his shots more as fatigue crept in.

“Razik’s patience and persistence were paying now and he took the game. But the Egyptian had more fight left in him. In the end, 21-year-old Shoukry had too much speed, strength and skill to be beaten tonight.”

Shoukry, ranked 68 in the world, progresses to play Max Lee, the fourth seed from Hong Kong who put out New ZealanderCampbell Grayson 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10.

There was further New Zealand disappointment when world No43 Martin Knight went down 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 to Egyptian teenager Karim Ali Fathi.

“Fathi was fast, powerful, and inventive which relegated Knight to a reactionary role,” said spokesman James. “Knight fought well for a while, but the Egyptian ultimately forced him to make errors that cost him the match tonight.”

The UK-based 19-year-old – competing in the USA for the first time – now faces top seed Borja Golan for a place in the last four. Spaniard Golan, ranked ten in the world, was stretched for 52 minutes before seeing off Egyptian Omar Abdel Meguid 11-5, 11-3, 13-11.

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Borja Golan (ESP) v Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
[4] Max Lee (HKG) v [Q] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY)
[3] Alan Clyne (SCO) v [Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)

For all the latest Tour news: www.psaworldtour.com

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