I Dig Sports
Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin beat Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-2 4-6 6-4 in the final of the inaugural Lyon Open.
Kenin, 21, is the first player on the WTA Tour to win two titles in 2020 but a number of unforced errors gave unseeded Friedsam, 26, the second set.
The United States' world number five regrouped in the final set, earning a double break before clinching victory on her third championship point.
"It's such a tough tournament, it could have gone either way," Kenin said.
German Friedsam was in her first final since 2015 as she continues her comeback from a shoulder injury.
"You've come back from injury and you're doing well and I wish you all the best for your upcoming tournaments," Kenin added.
It was the fifth title of Kenin's blossoming career after her three triumphs last year in Hobart, Mallorca and Guangzhou - before beating Garbine Muguruza in the Australian Open in January.
Coronavirus spread: Indian Wells cancelled because of concerns
The Indian Wells tournament has been cancelled because of concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
The tournament, a combined ATP and WTA event which is one of the biggest and most prestigious outside of the Grand Slams, was due to start this week.
Health officials in California said there was "too great a risk" to hold a "large gathering of this size".
"We are prepared to hold it on another date and will explore options," said tournament director Tommy Haas.
Many of the world's leading players, including men's world number two Rafael Nadal, have already arrived in California for the event.
Qualifying was set to start on Monday with the main draw matches beginning on Wednesday.
The tournament draws more than 400,000 fans each year to Indian Wells, which is 130 miles east of Los Angeles.
The decision to call off the tournament was made after one case of coronavirus was confirmed in the local Coachella Valley area. A public health emergency has been declared by medics.
"It is not in the public interest of fans, players and neighbouring areas for this tournament to proceed," said Dr David Agus, professor of medicine and biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California.
"We all have to join together to protect the community from the coronavirus outbreak."
Coronavirus - a fast-moving infection originating in China - has spread to more than 100 countries and claimed more than 3,800 lives.
"We are very disappointed that the tournament will not take place, but the health and safety of the local community, fans, players, volunteers, sponsors, employees, vendors, and everyone involved with the event is of paramount importance," added Haas, the former world number two.
WTA chief executive Steve Simon told the New York Times there had been discussions to hold the event behind closed doors but that option was rejected by tournament officials.
What has been the reaction of the players?
Spain's Nadal, 33, was among the first to react to the news, calling the outbreak of the virus "sad".
British doubles player Jamie Murray questioned whether the decision would force other major tournaments to be postponed.
"Doesn't bode well for the tour if Indian Wells cancelled for one confirmed case in Coachella Valley," said the 34-year-old Scot.
British number two Heather Watson set up a vote on her Twitter account asking whether the decision was an "overreaction" or a "good decision".
Belgian player Kirsten Flipkens criticised the WTA for not holding an emergency meeting of the players, with Romanian Sorana Cirstea adding she was only told about the news on Twitter.
Former world number three Pam Shriver, now a leading television analyst, believes it is a "brave, tough but correct decision".
Competing in the cadet age group, in the girls’ team event, she had joined forces with Beatrix Kanashiro, Karina Shiray and Victoria Strassburger to claim gold, later she secured the girls’ doubles title in partnership with Beatrix Kanashiro, in addition to partnering Leonardo Ilzuka to mixed doubles success.
On the concluding day of play she continued her winning ways. In the later stages of the cadet girls’ singles event she beat Chile’s Constanza Mesas (11-7, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4) and Colombia’s Juliana Lozada (11-9, 11-5, 11-7), prior to claiming the title at the expense of her doubles partner, Beatrix Kanashiro (11-3, 11-3, 11-3).
Earlier, at the quarter-final stage, Beatrix Kanashiro had overcome Ecuador’s Maria Borja (11-8, 7-11, 12-10, 11-3), followed by success in opposition to Chile’s Fernanda Araneda (14-12, 11-8, 10-12, 14-12).
More success for Brazil
Success for Brazil, there was further success; Diogo Silva won the junior boys’ singles title, Leonardo Kenzo emerged the cadet boys’ singles champion.
After accounting for Colombia’s Santiago Montes (11-8, 11-13, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-4), Diogo Silva overcame colleagues Henrique Noguti (7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-13, 11-6, 11-7) and Kenzo Carmo (12-10, 9-11, 14-12, 12-10, 11-7) to secure the top prize.
Notably, in the opposite half of the draw in the same rounds, Kenzo Carmo had beaten Chile’s Jean Parra (11-9, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-8), followed by success in opposition to Peru’s Carlos Fernandez (11-7, 3-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7).
Fine form
Good form from Diogo Silva, it was the same from Leonardo Ilzuka. He secured the cadet boys’ singles title at the expense of Ecuador’s Jeremy Cedeño (13-11, 11-7, 12-14, 11-6). In the immediate previous rounds, Leonardo Ilzuka had accounted for colleague Nicolas Nishimura (8-11, 11-5, 11-2, 11-7), prior to ousting Peru’s Alvaro Chavez (11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8).
Meanwhile, in the opposite half of the draw, Jeremy Cedeño had reserved his place in the final courtesy of success against Peru’s Rodrigo Vigo (7-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-3) and Brazil’s Augusto Andrade (11-6, 4-11, 11-6, 11-5).
Gold for Chile
Three titles for Brazil, the one gold medal to escape accrued in junior girls’ singles event.
Impressively in the opposite half of the draw, Laura Watanabe had ended Colombian hopes; in the round of the last eight she had ousted Manuela Echevarry (11-6, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9), followed by success in opposition to Alejandra Alzate (11-6, 11-9, 11-8, 12-10).
A break of one day, the 2020 ITTF World Junior Circuit Peru Junior and Cadet Open follows in the same venue in Lima on Tuesday 10th March.
Increasing medal haul, adding to titles in Platja d’Aro
Jung Youngha partnered compatriot Shin Mikyoung to success in women’s team class 4-5; not seeded at the final hurdle the duo recorded a 2-0 win against the top seeded partnership formed by Croatia’s Helena Dretar and India’s Davina Patel.
Similarly, Yang Qian added to her women’s singles success; she joined forces with colleagues Melissa Tapper and Lei Lina to secure the class 9-10 title. The top seeds, in a group organised competition they finished ahead of Chinese Taipei’s Tian Shiau-Wen and Tin Tzu-Yu, the no.2 seeds.
Meanwhile, in the men’s team competition, partnering Tomasz Jakimczuk, Rafal Czuper claimed the team class 1-2 title. The top seeds, they recorded a 2-1 win in the final in opposition to the no.2 seeds, the combination formed by the Czech Republic’s Jiri Suchanek who lined up alongside Russia’s Rasul Nasirov and Dmitry Lavrov.
Success upon success for it was the same in class 11 for Florian Van Acker who allied with Korea Republic’s Jeoung Kyuyoung; at the final hurdle, the top seeds they posted a 2-0 win in opposition to Japan’s Takashi Asano and Takeshi Takemori, the no.2 seeds.
Unexpected success
Team wins for Rafal Czuper and Florian Van Acker, as expected they commenced play the top seeds; for Peter Mihalik it was slightly different; he had won men’s singles class 4, commencing play as the no.3 seed. In men’s team class 3-4 he began proceedings the no.2 seed, in partnership with colleague Boris Travnicek.
At the semi-final stage, the duo recorded a 2-1 win against the top rated French pairing of Fabian Lamirault and Alexandre Delarque, prior to achieving a 2-1 success in opposition to the partnership formed by Poland’s Maciej Nalepka and the Czech Republic’s Peter Svatos.
The top prize contrary to expectations, it was the same in the remaining men’s team events. Korea Republic’s Kim Kiyoung and Kim Kyungyoung, the no.2 seeds, secured the class 5 title by recording a 2-0 win in the final against the top seeded Chinese Taipei outfit comprising Cheng Ming-Chih, Lin Wen-Hsin and Lin Yen-Hung.
Second seeds enjoy success
Likewise in class 8, the no.2 seeds, the combination of Hungary’s Andras Csonka and Slovakia’s Richard Csejtey secured the top prize, posting a 2-1 win in the final against the top seeded pairing of Belgium’s Marc Ledoux and Great Britain’s Billy Shilton.
Also in class 9-10 it was gold for the no.2 seeds; Frenchman Gilles de la Bourdonnaye and Russia’s Iuri Nozdrunov secured a 2-0 win in the title decider when facing Poland’s Igor Misztal and Italy’s Lorenzo Cordua.
A surprise but the biggest surprise was the success gained by Poland’s Maksym Chudzicki and Michal Deigsler in class 6-7; not seeded at the final hurdle they recorded a 2-0 win against the top seeded outfit formed by Japan’s Masachika Inoue and Belgium’s Ben Despineux.
Major upset
Undoubtedly a surprise outcome, in the women’s team events there was also a major upset. In class 11, organised on a group basis, Poland’s Krystina Lysiak and Dorota Nowacka, the third highest rated outfit secured first place ahead of the no.2 seeds Japan’s Kanami Furukawa and Maki Ito. The top seeds, the Russian partnership of Anzhelika Kosacheva and Maria Galkina had to settle third position.
Otherwise, in the one further women’s team events, it was success for the top seeds. Also organised on a group basis, in class 6-8, Poland’s Dajana Jastrzebska and Katarzyna Marszal finished in first place ahead of the pairing formed by Japan’s Yuti Tomono and Italy’s Elena Elli.
Play concluded in Platja d’Aro, the next tournament on the calendar is the ITTF 12th Al-Watani Para Championships 2020; proceedings commence in the Jordanian capital city of Amman on Tuesday 24th March.
Five points: Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng class acts but Liam Pitchford the talk of the town
Five points from final day….
Liam Pitchford joins the most celebrated
Amongst the very best players ever from England, Liam Pitchford strengthened that claim by beating China’s Xu Xin in the men’s singles penultimate round (3-11, 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 15-13, 11-9), the player who currently occupies top spot on the world rankings.
Thus he added to the success in 2018 when he had beaten Ma Long, the Olympic and World Champion in the opening round on the ITTF World Tour in Bulgaria.
Does he now stand alongside the likes of Desmond Douglas? At the 1995 World Championships in Tianjin; in the men’s team event against China he beat Liu Guoliang, who was then not selected for any further matches but finished the men’s singles runner up. The rest is history.
Rock solid
Success for Fan Zhendong, once again he proved himself safe and secure; underling the fact that currently he is surely the most consistent player on planet earth.
On the concluding day he beat players who had nothing to lose; he was rock solid in his semi-final win against Wang Chuqin (7-11, 8-11, 11-6. 14-12, 11-7, 11-9) and in the final when facing England’s Liam Pitchford (11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7).
Quite simply when crisis loomed he responded.
Apply pressure
Having won three men’s singles titles in succession on the 2019 ITTF World Tour in Japan, Korea Republic and Australia, as well as earlier this year claiming gold in Germany. Xu Xin, having never previously lost to Liam Pitchford, was odds on favourite in the men’s singles semi-final clash.
Time and again we see Chinese players make a good start; their technique is so well honed they relax and move to new heights. They become an unstoppable juggernaut but stay close, believe, ask questions and like anyone else they feel the pressure, they become their adversary’s equal. Liam Pitchford proved the point, in a crisis they can make mistakes like anyone else.
Complete player
Chen Meng underlined the fact that she is the complete player, she beat Mima Ito in the final in emphatic style (3-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7).
Not only did she display perfection in her technical skills, mentally she was sound; she maintained her perfect record against the player who is the greatest threat to Chinese excellence
She was expected to win being the top seed, she fulfilled expectations; that’s never easy in such company.
Don’t expect too much
A semi-final defeat for Wang Chuqin at the hands of Fan Zhendong (7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-7, 11-9) and in the final of the women’s singles event for Mima Ito but both underlined the fact that they are players very much in line to succeed in the greatest events the sport has to offer.
Remember, they are both only 19 years old; both fear no-one but be careful we don’t expect too much.
In Doha did not Wang Chuqin underline a greater than ever appetite, returning from a three month suspension. Surely Mima Ito endorsed the fact she enjoys being the greatest threat to China.
Together and apart, Eugene Wang and Zhang Mo book Tokyo places
by Ian Marshall, Editor
In the crucial deciding contests, facing colleagues, Eugene Wang beat Jeremy Hazin (11-5, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10); Zhang Mo accounted for Hui Huang (11-9, 11-4, 11-8, 11-1).
Later in the mixed doubles qualifier, Eugene Wang and Zhang Mo combined to overcome the United States pairing of Zhou Xin and Liu Juan (11-4 11-7 10-12 11-5).
Third Olympic Games
Notably Eugene Wang competed at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games; in London he played only in the team event alongside Pierre-Luc Hinse and André Ho, the two players who represented Canada in the men’s singles. A 3-0 opening round defeat at the hands of Hong Kong’s Jiang Tianyi, Tang Peng and Yang Zi was the outcome.
Four years later he was on men’s singles duty in Rio de Janeiro; he recorded a second round win against Turkey’s Li Ahmet before once again Hong Kong proved the stumbling block. He was beaten by Wong Chun Ting.
“This is my third Olympic Games and yes, I expected to win but I really hope that the younger athletes can catch up to me soon. It is always very special to walk into the stadium, representing Team Canada and I am very happy that I qualified. My goal is to focus on every single game and hope to play my best table tennis.” Eugene Wang
Likewise, later in the day Eugene Wang was delighted with the mixed doubles performance, clearly aware of the significance of the success.
“We have prepared for the moment for a very long time, knowing the importance of this match and the qualification for the Olympic Games, we started at the Pan American Games, where we won gold. We trained for the last three weeks together.” Eugene Wang
Fourth Olympic Games
Meanwhile for Zhang Mo she will be competing at a fourth Olympic Games, as previously in the women’s singles event.
In Beijing in 2008, she was beaten in the opening round by Tatyana Kostromina of Belarus, in London she experienced defeat in the second round against Austria’s Li Qiangbing; in Rio de Janeiro it was farewell at the same stage when opposing Hungary’s Georgina Pota.
“I am happy. This means a lot to me and I am proud to represent Canada at the Olympic Games. I am still playing the league in France and the European Champions League until June. After that I will be preparing for the Olympic Games to try and reach as far as I can.” Zhang Mo
All smiles as is always the situation with Zhang Mo, a young lady who does not have an angry bone in her body; understandably she was delighted that the partnership with Eugene Wang, a calm laid back character, had worked to perfection.
“I am super happy. We will do our best to represent Team Canada and give 100 per cent every match. We are certain that we will make Canada proud” Zhang Mo
Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng crowned champions of the 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum Qatar Open
Fan Zhendong returns to winning ways
One month after suffering an unexpected quarter-final exit at the hands of Dimitrij Ovtcharov at the German Open, Fan Zhendong capitalized on his first opportunity since then to return to winning ways, clinching the men’s singles title in Qatar. The world no.1 defeated England’s Liam Pitchford over six epic games in the final (11-9, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 6-11, 11-7).
Fan survived a scare in the first round in Doha, when he was taken to seven games by Sweden’s Anton Kallberg (7-11, 11-6, 11-13, 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3), but his title charge intensified after seeing off Sweden’s Jon Persson (11-9, 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10) in the quarter-final before winning yet another tight battle against China’s most promising teenage talent Wang Chuqin, the no.9 seed (7-11, 8-11, 11-6, 14-12, 11-7, 11-9). Wang had caught the attentions of the table tennis world when in the second round he overcame the reigning Olympic and World champion Ma Long, the no.3 seed (13-15, 14-12, 4-11, 11-8, 3-11, 13-11, 11-6).
By overcoming Pitchford in the final, Fan regained his Qatar Open crown, having previously won in Doha in 2018, and also sealed his 14th career title on the ITTF World Tour.
“Today in the first game I was down 6-9 and then 0-4 in the second, but I was prepared for such a situation before the match. He (Pitchford) has been in good form over the past few matches, so I made sure to do my homework on him. I expected him to perform. His improvement and growth are there for the entire table tennis world to see. He is definitely an opponent to respect and be wary of.” – Fan Zhendong
Pitchford almost enters Promised Land
The 2020 Qatar Open will forever be remembered as the tournament in which Liam Pitchford put himself within touching distance of a first ever ITTF World Tour men’s singles title. The no.15 seed became the first ever Englishman to reach the men’s singles final at an ITTF World Tour Platinum tournament by completing a stunning victory over China’s Xu Xin, the no.2 seed (3-11, 11-7, 11-9, 6-11, 15-13, 11-9), with what Pitchford later described as the “best win of my life.” The 26 year old from Chesterfield would then put on another show in the final against Fan Zhendong.
“It’s never nice to lose a final or even a match, but I can reflect positively on the tournament. I think I played well in the final. There were a few chances here and there that I didn’t take and you can’t afford to do that, especially against Fan Zhendong, but overall I think I played well. I tried to play positively with my backhand to his backhand, knowing that in the forehand to forehand exchanges he was slightly favoured, so I had to switch up my strategy. I think I did that and made him up his game. These are positive steps for the future.” – Liam Pitchford
Earlier in Doha, Pitchford had overcome two of the most experienced players in the sport: in the second round he accounted for Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus (11-7, 11-7, 6-11, 12-10, 8-11, 18-16), the opening round winner against China’s no.4 seed Lin Gaoyuan. Then in the quarter-final, Pitchford ousted Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan (14-12, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7). Another play in form, Chuang had eliminated Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, the no.5 seed, in the opening round.
Despite defeat in the final against Fan Zhendong, this had truly been a tournament to remember for Pitchford, who on the previous day also sealed a silver medal in the men’s doubles alongside Paul Drinkhall. The pair achieved the feat against all the odds, having been required to qualify for the main draw.
They were beaten in Saturday’s final by the might of Ma Long and Xu Xin (11-8, 8-11, 11-1, 11-6) who thus secured their 14th ITTF World Tour men’s doubles title as pair, 11 years after their first ever success together, at the 2009 Qatar Open.
More history for Pitchford and Drinkhall: they became the first English pair ever to reach the final of a men’s doubles event on either the ITTF World Tour or at an ITTF Challenge Series tournament.
“Queen of Finals” Chen Meng overcomes Ito
World no.1 for a reason, Chen Meng has now won 17 out of 21 women’s singles finals on the ITTF World Tour after she defeated Japan’s Mima Ito, the no.3 seed, in Sunday’s showpiece (3-11, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7, 11-7).
“I think I am still not getting into the match fast enough. The focus I showed from the second game onwards, I simply did not have in that first game I lost. There will always be nerves at the start of the match and I was not relaxed enough. She (Ito) has a great ability to read the game and is regularly reaching finals and semi-finals. She still has that desire to put up a fight against us (Chinese women’s players) without fear.” – Chen Meng
The top seed maintained her renowned mental strength throughout the later rounds, beating China’s Wang Yidi, the no.11 seed (11-5, 11-8, 13-15, 11-6, 11-6), and another teammate Wang Manyu, the no.4 seed and defending champion (10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 11-4), before overcoming Ito to take the title.
This was Ito’s second ITTF World Tour women’s singles final within two weeks after winning the Hungarian Open. In Doha, she continued her fine form: in the semi-final she defeated the reigning Olympic champion and no.6 seed, Ding Ning, in straight games (11-6, 14-12, 11-0, 11-5).
“Doing the Double”
A silver medal in the women’s singles, Ito had got her hands on gold the previous day in the mixed doubles, alongside Jun Mizutani. In the final, the top seeds defeated China’s Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games mixed team gold medallists (11-8, 7-11, 11-4, 15-13).
This was an eighth ITTF World Tour mixed doubles final for Ito and Mizutani since they joined forces in early July last year, but only their second title. In 2019 they won in Bulgaria, before being the runners up in Czech Republic, Austria, Sweden, Germany and at the Grand Finals. Earlier this year they were again beaten finalists at the German Open in Magdeburg.
A second success side by side, in the women’s doubles it was the same for Wang Manyu and Zhu Yuling, the no.2 seeds securing the crown at the expense of Japanese teenagers Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki, the top seeds (11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9).
Previously in 2018, Wang and Zhu had been runners up in Korea Republic and in 2019 in China, before later winning in the German city of Bremen.
Meanwhile for Kihara and Nagasaki, their impressive run came to an end. Between November and December 2019, they triumphed at the World Junior Championships, the Austrian Open and the Grand Finals. Defeat in Doha represented their first reverse as a doubles pair since early October in Sweden.
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Daryl Selby steals the show on day one at Canary Wharf
Daryl Selby savours a storybook victory over Joel Makin at Canary Wharf
‘Playing in front of a crowd like this and with my family watching was all the motivation I needed’
By ALAN THATCHER – Squash Mad Editor
England’s Daryl Selby provided the biggest shock on the opening day of the 2020 St. James’s Place Canary Wharf Classic with a thrilling fightback to beat Welsh World No.10 Joel Makin. The 37-year-old Selby earned a standing ovation from the packed crowd after saving seven game balls in the second game before clinching the match 11-8, 15-13.
Selby treated the crowd to the full array of his attacking genius with a variety of winning trick shots in the opening game. Every one was a contender for the SquashTV shot of the month award. If this is what he can produce with a pair of goggles then everybody will be wearing them soon.
Selby, who is dropping some strong hints about an imminent retirement, was clearly determined to enjoy what could have been his final appearance before a full-house crowd jammed into the East Wintergarden. Selby patiently built a 6-0 lead, and weathered a solid comeback before taking the first game 11-8. His repertoire of winners included chops, drops, flicks, nicks and kills.
He frequently slowballed shots down the side wall to break up the Welshman’s rhythm and momentum.
The rankings predicted a win for Makin, who set about his task in sold fashion in the second game as Selby’s range of winners appeared to be drying up.
Makin looked in control as he reached game ball at 10-5 but Selby suddenly regained his touch and, as the winners began to flow again, Makin’s authority evaporated.
Adding to the drama, both players and the audience were perplexed by some of the refereeing decisions, with Selby feeling particularly aggrieved after a run of calls went against him. At one point Selby was poised to finish the rally with Makin off balance and out of position by the left service box when Ralf Harenberg shouted “Stop” and said it was for safety reasons.
Selby drew level at 10-10 and kept clawing his way back from a total of seven game balls until he completed a stunning finale to triumph 15-13 in 52 minutes of pure entertainment, drama and the occasional moment of slapstick.
Selby had admitted that his retirement would be “sooner rather than later” and said he was inspired by what could have been his farewell appearance at the East Wintergarden.
He said: “It’s obviously not my last appearance here now because I managed to get the win. But, as well as thinking this could have been my last time playing here, well, this is Canary Wharf. This is one of the best tournaments in the world, and I found out this morning that I have played here for 15 years in a row.
“Playing before a fantastic crowd and with my family watching through the side wall, that’s all the motivation I needed. That’s why I love this game so much and (addressing the crowd) I guess that’s why all of you do too.
“I got off to a good start which is important in best-of-three, and I am not notoriously a good starter. It wasn’t quick, as you would expect with someone like Joel. I felt like I played good squash, and I stuck to my game plan quite well.
“At the end of the day, I pulled out some shots at crucial times, especially in the second game. I had to be positive today because there is no way you are going to outmanoeuvre Joel. He has earned his place in the top 10 and it is pleasing for me to get a win over a top 10 guy.
“I’m playing Tarek [Momen] tomorrow and I played the World No.1 in Chicago last week, now the World Champion this week. I might be coming to the end but I love testing myself against the best guys to see how close I can get, just constantly trying to push and finish strong.”
There were a couple of other surprise results on the opening day, with Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet beating compatriot (and room-mate) Gregoire Marche, and Scotland’s Greg Lobban overcoming an out of touch Mazen Hesham.
World No.22 Castagnet got the better of Marche on the glass court after battling through a lengthy first game, taking it after half an hour. The second game was slightly more straightforward, as he eventually came through to take the win, booking his place in the second round, where he will face World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy.
Lobban got the better of Hesham, who had pulled out of his third round clash at the Windy City Open in Chicago last week, and he was clearly not fully fit here, but the Scot pushed on to secure victory, booking his place against Karim Abdel Gawad on Tuesday.
“I didn’t know which Mazen was going to turn up. I knew he was not 100%, but for me, even Mazen at 50 or 60% is a good win. You never know when he is going to roll out some winners, but I wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully he gets back to full fitness,” Lobban said.
There were victories for James Willstrop and Declan James in the first and last battles on the glass court, both against fellow Englishmen Richie Fallows and Adrian Waller.
Willstrop is a keen actor and, instead of playing in Chicago, he warmed up by appearing on stage at the Bingley Arts Centre in a play called Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. The theatrical production lasted two hours and 30 minutes, which was considerably more taxing than the 21 minutes he spent on court against wild card Fallows. The local hopeful won a run of early points, but was overwhelmed by the occasion once Willstrop got into character.
If Willstrop and Selby put a broad smile on people’s faces with their early endeavours, Waller ended the evening on a sour note as he was given a conduct stroke on match ball for racket abuse, following a string of errors against James.
The Egyptian duo of Omar Mosaad and Fares Dessouky, and India’s Saurav Ghosal, all advanced to the second round of the PSA Gold tournament.
Mosaad muscled his way past Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng and Dessouky hit back after losing the opening game to Raphael Kandra. These were the only matches that went to three games. Ghosal had too much control at the front of the court as he dominated his match against Tom Richards.
PSA Gold $109k St. James’s Place Canary Wharf Classic, East Wintergardem, Canary Wharf, London, England.
First Round:
Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 2-0: 12-10, 11-8 (46m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 2-0: 11-7, 11-7 (25m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt [WC] Richie Fallows (ENG) 2-0: 11-5, 11-6 (21m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt Joel Makin (WAL) 2-0: 11-8, 15-13 (52m)
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt Mazen Hesham (EGY) 2-0: 11-6, 11-7 (25m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Eain Yow Ng (MAS) 2-1: 7-11, 14-12, 11-8 (69m)
Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 2-1: 8-11, 11-3, 11-5 (35m)
Declan James (ENG) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 2-0: 12-10, 11-6 (43m)
Pictures by STEVE LINE (courtesy of PSA) and PATRICK LAUSON
'Haouas has to learn a few lessons' - France manager Ibanez on red-carded prop
France team manager Raphael Ibanez will "have a long talk" with Mohamed Haouas after the prop's first-half red card in the Six Nations defeat by Scotland.
Haouas was dismissed for striking Jamie Ritchie in the face as Scotland won 28-17 to end France's quest for a Six Nations Grand Slam at Murrayfield.
The visitors led 7-6 after 37 minutes when Haouas was ordered off after punching Ritchie amid a mass melee.
"What can I say? It's really disappointing," Ibanez told BBC Sport.
"We know at this level you cannot react badly. This is what he did, obviously we'll have a long talk and hopefully he can improve in that department.
"I haven't spoken to him yet. Sometimes it's much better as a director of rugby to let him go and talk maybe tomorrow about what happened.
"He wants to do his best for the team but he has to learn a few lessons."
Damian Penaud's try had given France a slender lead, despite an early sin-binning for flanker Francois Cros.
After Montpellier tight-head Haouas' dismissal, Scotland scored on the stroke of half-time and ran in two more tries to effectively kill the contest.
France, who had beaten England, Italy and Wales, were uncharacteristically error-strewn and slack, and unable to snatch a losing bonus point after Charles Ollivon crossed late on.
"Unfortunately we didn't give ourselves a chance to win," former France captain Ibanez added. "We played for almost 55 minutes with a man down, which is too much on the international stage.
"I don't think the Grand Slam weighed heavily on the team. It's down to Scotland, they played with a lot of intensity. And on our side, things went totally the opposite to how we wanted.
"That's rugby, we are still a young team and we have got to learn from that."
Six Nations: Scotland do England big favour - Matt Dawson column
Now that England v Italy is a title-deciding game, the match's postponement because of coronavirus has taken on a different dynamic.
Scotland ended France's Grand Slam hopes on Sunday, and even a bonus-point victory for Les Bleus against Ireland in the final round might not be enough to secure the title.
All of a sudden England, who beat Wales on Saturday, are back into the title race but who says their final game against Italy is even going to happen?
In 2001 when games were postponed until the autumn because of foot-and-mouth disease, we knew relatively quickly when the game was going to be played.
This feels like the potential to play it is a lot more fluid. Where is the gap in the schedule? Is it pre-season, pre-autumn internationals, the end of this season?
I cannot see it being before next season because of what is happening with coronavirus.
It is such a tricky one. Before Scotland's victory against France, England players would not have been waiting by the phone to find out when their match would be rescheduled.
It is not like they are going for a Grand Slam and they are going to beat Italy.
But now, with England ahead of France in the table on points difference, their thinking about the game gets sharpened.
On an individual level, the postponement means England scrum-half Ben Youngs is stuck on his 99th cap.
He would never admit it, but that must be a bit frustrating. It is an incredible achievement for any sportsperson to get 100 caps for their country.
There is no doubt in my mind that he will get there. He is not going to be worried about not getting another cap if he carries on playing like he did on Saturday.
I am really pleased he got man of the match, because he managed the game superbly well.
That is why he is in the team - the kicking strategy, the attacking strategy, organising the defence, the decisions, calming the atmosphere when all around you is getting a little bit hectic.
There were moments in the game against Wales where there needed to be a calm head amongst it all to make the big decisions, and Ben was making them
'Tuilagi red a poor decision'
I thought the red card for Manu Tuilagi's tackle on George North was a poor refereeing decision.
It was a bad tackle but there were mitigating circumstances that take it down from a red to a yellow.
I am not convinced that if that was a World Cup final or if the score was 30-30 the referee Ben O'Keeffe would send him off.
It is a circumstantial red card where he is thinking he will not get in any bother by sending him off because there is shoulder to the head and England are 17 points ahead. It is going to be inconsequential to the outcome.
England head coach Eddie Jones said after the game that it was ridiculous and suggested O'Keeffe was Wales' 16th man.
That is Eddie Jones being Eddie Jones. He is obviously not in the slightest bit worried about trying to win over fans or the media or be remembered as a successful coach who was a thoroughly likeable individual.
If you look at Warren Gatland when he was Wales head coach, he was still very prickly but he would do it in a clever, calculating way rather than an off-the-cuff, emotional comment like Eddie tends to do.
He distracts attention away from his players and it seems to be working because England are a great team.
But every single conversation I have about rugby with England fans, when they mention Eddie Jones, they ask if he really is like that. They want to like him and stand by him and applaud him but even a lot of England fans wonder why he needs to say those things. It is just unnecessary.
'Wales will be kicking themselves'
Wales managed to change their tactics and score three tries in the second half at Twickenham on Saturday.
England were still dominant but Wales will be kicking themselves that they did not throw caution to the wind in the first half.
A lot of the Six Nations has come down to who can now compete up front.
Wales, Ireland and Scotland have got really good individual, experienced and strong players but as a collective only France can match England up front.
Unless you have got the firepower to nullify the tight five of Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler, Maro Itoje and George Kruis you have got a tough day at the office, as was proven at the World Cup.
In the final South Africa met England front on, then they had the skills in the backline to pick the right time to play.
Too often England are making teams play from their own half. You are a long way from home and England have got the defence and patience to squeeze the life out of the opposition.
'It bodes well for 2023 World Cup'
With their final Six Nations game still up in the air, England's next confirmed fixture is against Japan in July.
From what I understand, Eddie wants to take a full squad on that tour to Japan. If a player is fit, they are going to go.
There were plenty of man hugs on the touchline for Kruis, who is rumoured to be considering a move to a Japanese club, and particularly Marler, who has retired from international rugby once before. We will find out later whether they are calling it a day.
But the bulk of this England side are going to be around for the next World Cup in 2023.
You have got a stack load of second rows queueing up to step in for Kruis and partner Maro Itoje and the back row will all be around.
Scrum-half Youngs is going to be a question mark because another three years training at that intensity is a long time, so that is certainly something the coaching team have got to be mindful of.
But it is a great picture for England. I do not mind the fact that the final score against Wales was 33-30, there were lots of lessons learned.
It was another dominant England performance and these guys are just going to get better with age.
They are going to take more responsibility as the years go by. They have got the memories of adversity of the World Cup final defeat and losing in the opening round in Paris.
So it bodes well for the 2023 World Cup and the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
Matt Dawson was speaking to BBC Sport's Becky Grey.
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