El Hammamy Impresses In Win Over Gilis
Hania El Hammamy set up a rematch of the 2022 final at the Windy City Open, beating Tinne Gilis 3-0 to reach the last four of this year’s event.
Gohar got the better of El Hammamy with the title on the line two years ago, but the 23-year-old will have a shot at revenge in tomorrow’s semi-finals, after sweeping Gilis aside in just 38 minutes.
El Hammamy had never been beaten by the Belgian in eight previous meetings, but the two this season had both gone to at least four games.
Gilis also came into this tournament having reached the final of her two most recent tournaments, and had not dropped a game so far in Chicago.
She was, though, outplayed from start to finish by the Egyptian, who set the tone with a fast start, charging into a 3-0 lead.
A lovely hold on a forehand winner at 5-3 drew the appreciation of the crowd, and they didn’t have to wait long to see the World No.2 close out game one, with Gilis tinning a forehand boast on game ball.
Another fast start in the second took the game quickly away from Gilis, as El Hammamy brought up six game balls on an overhand forehand which just died in the back-left corner.
She clinched the game on an elegant backhand volley, high above her left shoulder, but faced her first moment of adversity at 3-1 down in game three.
Undeterred, El Hammamy erased the deficit in the blink of an eye, but Gilis stuck with her well, giving it her all as she somehow levelled at 6-6, scrambling around the court to win a rally she looked out of at least twice.
That perhaps took the wind out of Gilis’s sails, though, especially as El Hammamy returned the favour on the very next rally, winning a point she had no right to win.
The Egyptian won the next three points to bring up four match balls, but only needed one, flicking a forehand winner cross court and letting out a huge cry of emotion.
“I’ve always found playing against Tinne very tricky and it’s always been tough,” she said, after her win.
“This season it’s been either in four or five, so I’m definitely pleased to win in three today. She’s a very good friend off court and it’s always hard playing against a friend. I’ve watched back our matches and I tried to use some different tactics and I’m pleased it paid off.
“I’ll take any win that I get in three. It’s better for me to be fresh and ready for the semis, especially against Gohar. It’s always physical, it’s always long and being able to get through in three gives me an advantage.
“Another match this season [against Gohar], it’s very challenging as always. I’m excited for it.”
Result:
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [7] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (38m)
Asal Fights Back To Down Elias In Five
Mostafa Asal fought back from 2-1 down to beat Diego Elias in a five-game thriller, reaching the Windy City Open semi-finals for the first time.
The pair have struck up quite a rivalry over the last few years, with each of their last five meetings taking more than an hour, and controversy often playing its part.
The most recent of those was a five-game marathon at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions, which went Elias’ way after 90 minutes of action, and it was the Peruvian who made the better start here, taking game one 11-7.
The rally that clinched that game for Elias ended with an Asal backhand into the tin, his sixth error on that side of the court, but the Raging Bull was a different beast in game two.
From 5-3 down, Asal won eight of the next nine points to level the score at one game all, highlighted by a James Willstrop-esque windmill fake followed by a slammed forehand into the nick.
With Willstrop in his corner, Asal was then forced to call for the physio upon getting a nosebleed between games – as he had done in Houston last week – and the delay appeared to halt his momentum.
An audacious ‘tweener’ got the crowd excited but did little to help Asal’s cause, as Elias closed out the game to move within one of victory, an Asal lob looping out to end the game.
But back came the Raging Bull once more, opening up an 8-2 lead with Elias appearing to have thrown in the towel to focus on the fifth.
A collision on court sent both players tumbling to the floor, and while Elias did threaten a comeback, closing the gap back to 9-6, the young Egyptian had enough to get over the line, ripping a backhand winner out of Elias’ reach on game ball.
Tensions were running high with a place in the final four at stake, as both players drilled the ball down the channels in the opening rallies of game five, hitting tight against the walls.
It was Asal, though, who played the cleaner game, cutting out the errors that had plagued his play in the opening game.
He raced into a 7-1 lead, before the game descended into a battle of interference. Yes let followed yes let, with referee Roy Gingell called upon at almost every turn, but it was the video referee who made a crucial call at 9-6.
A controversial no let was given to hand match ball to Asal, and he clinched it a few shots later when Elias hit the tin, following his victory with a unique celebration in which he faked a pulled hamstring before breaking out into a dance.
“It’s unreal,” Asal said after the match.
“Just to be playing Diego in the ‘new Mostafa’ form is difficult. It brings back all the bad days, but it’s more flowing, it’s good squash.
There was just a little bit of time where he was not clearing or I was not clearing, but it’s just two big guys, so it was really well dealt with by Roy Gingell and credit to him. He makes the matches quiet and calm and I’m happy with my performance for sure.
“It’s tough to find the balance between really calm and ‘raging’ so I’m really happy to perform again and to dig in.
“There were lots of difficulties on the road, but I was telling him [Willstrop], every champion will not be 100% every day. I fixed the right nose and then it [a nosebleed] happens in the left nose. Houston it was the right nose, here it was the left nose.
Speaking on the tense fifth game, Asal added: “He played his best squash in those few points and it was incredibly tight. In the fifth game, even if you are leading, he’s just coming back and there was lots of pressure coming into it, but I’m really happy with it.”
Asal also gave a quick insight into the story behind his interesting celebration.
“I saw it on Facebook and I felt like it was an amazing celebration, and thought, why not, I can do it.
“So when I was warming up, I was motivating myself that if I win, I would do it. It’s something from my past. I love it and the kids love it, and why not after everything was good and clean.”
Result:
[5] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [2] Diego Elias (PER) 3-2: 7-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6 (83m)
Defending Champion Gohar Dominates Weaver
Defending champion Nouran Gohar booked her spot in the Windy City Open semi-finals, outplaying Olivia Weaver from start to finish in a dominant 3-0 win.
Both players are coached by Australian squash icon Rod Martin, who was staying impartial throughout, remaining in the crowd between games and not advising either player.
Instead, Gohar had Haitham Effat in her corner, and the Egyptian coach – who had flown in from San Franscisco for this match – would have been pleased with the way his charge started, taking game one in 12 minutes when Weaver snatched at a forehand volley and found the tin.
Weaver had England’s Gina Kennedy coaching her between games, but the World No.9 was powerless to preventing the American falling two games behind.
A ferocious forehand kill moved Gohar into a 4-1 lead in game two, with the fast and frantic nature of play suiting the hard-hitting Egyptian.
Weaver was struggling to read her opponent, who was barely putting a foot wrong, winning game two in only eight minutes on a backhand boast.
As the only remaining American player left in the draw, Weaver had the crowd on her side, and they showed their appreciation for a soft backhand kill that brought the 28-year-old level at 4-4 in game three.
A backhand drop gave Weaver an 8-7 lead a few rallies later, but that would be the last point she’d win, as Gohar reeled off four points on the bounce to clinch victory.
“It’s tough to play against Olivia,” she said after her win.
“We share the same coach so it’s never easy, but I’m very pleased with the way I played, with my performance in general, and the tactics. I think I managed to execute the game plan well and so far, I’m happy.
“I’ve been working with Haitham for almost a year now and it really helps to have him as well. I’m really grateful to have Rod and Haitham with me, both the best calibre of coach in general, so having Haitham obviously really, really helped today.
“I’m glad that he could make it. He flew all the way from San Fransisco just to be with me, hopefully during these coming days as well, at the end of the tournament. I really want to make them proud this week so I’m very happy that I have them.
“I also have my physiotherapist, Francisco, and my fitness coach from Egypt, and I have a family friend supporting me all the way as well, so it feels great to be playing here.
“I love it here in Chicago. Having this huge support of the Walter family is very big for our sport, but I personally really appreciate this. The club members are extremely nice, and it feels like home.
“I think I’ve played this tournament since I was 15 years old, so that has been 11 or 12 years now that I’ve come back. It’s just crazy when you think about the numbers and it doesn’t feel that way to be honest, it feels like I’ve maybe played it two or three times, so proof that I’m getting old.”
Result:
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [8] Olivia Weaver (USA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-2, 11-8 (42m)
The bottom half quarter finals take place tonight in Chicago as the Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family semi-finalists will be decided.
USA’s Olivia Weaver takes on defending champion and training partner Nouran Gohar in the opening match on day six. Gohar is yet to lose to Weaver, with eight wins in a row giving huge confidence to the Egyptian. Gohar won the event in 2022 and will be looking to score a ninth win over Weaver to reach the final four.
A heavyweight clash between Mostafa Asal and Diego Elias follows the opening match, a 12th career meeting between the two and second meeting of the season. Elias claimed victory the last time the pair met at the J.P Morgan Tournament of Champions. The previous encounters have been steeped in controversial moments and with valuable ranking points on offer, who will come out on top in the latest Elias/Asal battle?
2022 women’s runner up Hania El Hammamy will be looking to go one better than 2 years ago as she takes on Belgium’s Tinne Gilis in the last women’s quarter final. El Hammamy and Gilis have produced entertaining battles in the past, including two exciting clashes this season at the Paris Squash 2023 and U.S Open. The Chicago crowd will be hoping for another entertaining clash as the pair take to the court once again.
The final match of the evening will be between defending men’s champion Paul Coll and France’s Victor Crouin. The Frenchman scored an upset over Tarek Momen in the previous round and now faces Coll for second Platinum event semi-final in a row after Crouin claimed a big win over the New Zealander in the Tournament of Champions. Coll will be determined to inflict his revenge tonight and continue his title defense.
Order of play
