CIB Egyptian Open Quarters

World No.1 Nouran Gohar had to fight through the pain barrier as she overcame an ankle injury to dispatch fellow Egyptian Rowan Elaraby 11-4, 11-9, 11-5.

Gohar, 23, was wearing heavy strapping around her right ankle and looked on the verge of shaking hands after hurting it further at 2-1 down in the third game. But after some time off court to receive treatment, Gohar returned and put together a steely performance befitting of her ‘Terminator’ nickname to close out the win against all the odds.

“I thought my ankle was going to be worse actually,” said Gohar following her win.

“At first, the feeling wasn’t very good, but I really wanted to play, so I think that helped a little bit to just not really think about it. I’m just glad I was able to keep going and not just pull out. It felt really great to be back here, I love this court, whether it’s at El Gouna or here, my first match on this court was at Wadi Degla and I have very good memories on the court, but put it in front of the Pyramids and it’s another thing."

The first match of the inaugural women’s CIB Egyptian Open pitted World No.3 Camille Serme up against World No.29 Sabrina Sobhy, with the former coming close to causing another upset at this year’s tournament after toppling fellow American Olivia Clyne in the previous round.

Serme, who exited the CIB PSA World Tour Finals at the hands of Sabrina’s older sister Amanda a fortnight ago, never looked comfortable on court after an early slip. But the 31-year-old held her nerve to edge her opponent out, winning 11-6, 12-14, 9-11, 12-10, 11-7.

"I always know it is going to be hard against Sabrina, she is coming along strongly," said Serme.

"We’ve been practicing and training together a little bit so I know what she’s capable of. To be honest, I saw myself on a plane home tonight when I was 2-1 down. I don’t know what happened, I need to analyse with my coach how I actually won this match. I felt a bit flat in a few games and she was really good, attacking and volleying very well. I’m happy I’m through and really glad I made it."

She will face off against PSA World Tour Finals champion Hania El Hammamy for a fifth tournament in a row after El Hammamy beat Belgium’s Tinne Gilis 3-1 over at the New Giza Sporting Club. El Hammamy stunned Serme when she came back from two games down to beat the French player in the CIB PSA Women’s World Championship quarter-finals 12 months ago in front of the Pyramids.

GIlis’s older sister, Nele, was the day’s other victor as she came back from a game down to beat Canada’s Hollie Naughton. She will play Gohar next in only her second PSA Platinum quarter-final appearance.

Round three continues tomorrow (October 13). Side court action will once again be held at the New Giza Sporting Club from 12:45 (GMT+2), while four matches will be held at the glass court in front of the iconic Great Pyramid of Giza from 18:00 onwards.

Action will be shown live on SQUASHTV and the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour.

For more information on the 2020 CIB Egyptian Open, visit the official website and follow the tournament on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Results - Men’s Third Round (Top Half): 2020 CIB Egyptian Open

[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-2: 10-12, 11-8, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7 (77m)

Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [8] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 3-1: 11-7, 11-7, 9-11, 12-10 (63m)

Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-5 (40m)

[4] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 12-10 (45m)

Draw - Men’s Third Round (Bottom Half): To Be Played October 13th

[3] Tarek Momen (EGY) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)

Gregoire Marche (FRA) v [5] Diego Elias (PER)

[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) v Nathan Lake (ENG)

Saurav Ghosal (IND) v Mazen Hesham (EGY)