Egyptian teenager Amina Orfi became the youngest player ever to reach the last 16 of the PSA World Championships on Friday. At the age of 15 years and 10 months, Orfi produced a stunning win over USA’s world No.13 Olivia Clyne at Union Station in Chicago.
“I feel so happy,” said the championship debutante from Cairo after her 11-9, 11-3, 7-11, 11-6 upset over the 13th seed. “I didn’t know I was the youngest player, so knowing this now motivates me.
“The first game was crucial and I think that’s what opened the match up for me. I’m not focusing on it [how far she can go in the tournament] and I’m just focusing on my game. Hopefully I can do well and continue on for the rest of the tournament.”
Orfi now faces compatriot Hania El Hammamy, the No.3 seed, for a place in the quarter-finals.
In the men’s draw, top seed Mostafa Asal avoided a shock defeat against 2015 World Championship runner-up Omar Mosaad, prevailing 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8 after 81 minutes.
Asal will take on Joel Makin in the next round after the Welshman defeated Scotland’s Rory Stewart over at the University Club of Chicago. Makin won the pair’s last meeting at the Canary Wharf Classic and Asal will be out for revenge.
“I need these kind of matches, physically I’m okay,” said Asal. “Mosaad was playing superb squash and all credit to him. I need this to get my momentum for the tournament. 3-2 is not what I was aiming for but I’ll take the positives.
“It was a difficult match [against Makin] in Canary Wharf. I hope squash can do the talking in this match. He’s a good player and has done a fantastic job this season.”
A high-quality exchange at the beginning of @diegoelias96 ? Baptiste Masotti ?#PSAWorldChamps pic.twitter.com/w7Y1yk2kfL
— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) May 5, 2023
Qualifier Mohamed Abouelghar continued his giant-killing run in the men’s event with an 11-9, 6-11, 11-3, 11-7 victory over fellow Egyptian Fares Dessouky, the 10th seed.
In his ninth World Championship appearance since 2013, England’s unseeded Nathan Lake celebrated his first time in the third round after upsetting Grégoire Marche, the 15th seed from France, 10-12, 11-9, 11-3, 11-3.