Qatar Squash Classic: Amanda Sobhy dials in to reach last four
Written by I Dig SportsWith some aplomb, USAs Amanda Sobhy dispatched top seed and World No.2 Nouran Gohar in straight games and cotinued using her phone gesture routine to reach the semi-final of the QTerminals Qatar Classic.
Gohar looked well set to take the lead after starting quickly and earning four game balls at 10-6.
The American who had lost her last nine matches against the Egyptian responded emphatically, scoring six consecutive points to stun Gohar.
Hanging up the phone seems to be working, so Im gunna keep rolling with it https://t.co/hOnjE1awhf
Amanda Sobhy (@itssobhytime) September 13, 2023
The World No.5 picked up where she left off in game two, attacking confidently to double her lead with an 11-9 win before sealing a remarkable victory with an emphatic 11-1 win in the third game.
Afterwards, Sobhy said: Im not afraid anymore. I want to play her because it gives me that much more confidence going in against her.
I was excited to know that I was going to face again here in Qatar after last week in Paris.
Sobhy will face No.3 seed Hania El Hammamy after the Egyptian recorded a 3-1 win over Englands Georgina Kennedy.
The other semi-final will be contested by unseeded Belgian Tinne Gilis and World No.1 Nour El Sherbini of Egypt.
Gilis, who came 0-2 down to No.4 seed Joelle King in the third round, performed another escape as she battled back from a game down to beat Egypts Salma Hany and reach her first Platinum semi-final.
El Sherbini, meanwhile, looked imperious as she overcame Tinnes sister Nele Gilis 3-1, with an 11-0 win in game one setting the tone.
In the mens event, round three concluded with all the players from the bottom half of the draw in action.
In a thrilling five-game encounter, defending champion Mohamed ElShorbagy of England fought back from a game down to beat Egypts Youssef Ibrahim in 81 minutes.
The former World No.1 will take on Mazen Hesham in tomorrows quarter-final after the No.6 seed beat Aly Abou Eleinen in an all-Egyptian clash.
Elsewhere, No.2 seed and 2021 champion Diego Elias of Peru beat Egypts Youssef Soliman 3-0 and 2016 champion Karim Abdel Gawad beat Switzerlands Nicolas Mueller 3-1.
Results: QTerminals Qatar Classic Womens Quarter-Final
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 3-0: 12-10, 11-9, 11-1 (32m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 3-1: 11-1, 11-7, 7-11, 12-10 (49m)Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt Salma Hany (EGY) 3-1: 6-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7 (57m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [6] Nele Gilis (BEL) 3-1: 11-0, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6 (46m)
Results: QTerminals Qatar Classic Mens Round Three (Bottom Half)
[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 3-2 6-11, 11-6, 16-14, 8-11, 11-7 (81m)[6] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-6 (33m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-1: 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9 (43m)
[2] Diego Elias (PER) bt Youssef Soliman (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-2, 11-5 (38m)
Draw: QTerminals Qatar Classic Womens Semi-Final to be played 14 September
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY)
Tinne Gilis (BEL) v [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Draw: QTerminals Qatar Classic Mens Quarter-Final to be played 14 September
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) v [8] Tarek Momen (EGY)
Greg Lobban (SCO) v Joel Makin (WAL)
[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) v [6] Mazen Hesham (EGY)Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [2] Diego Elias (PER)