World Junior Champion Hania El Hammamy has claimed her first ever quarter-final berth at the CIB PSA Women’s World Championship after overcoming Malaysia’s World No.48 Sivasangari Subramaniam earlier today in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
19-year-old El Hammamy claimed the most prestigious title in junior squash in Kuala Lumpur in August of this year, and she has made waves on the PSA Tour, rising to No.11 in the world after semi-final finishes at the China Open and Open de France. Subramaniam, 20, has impressed at this tournament, upsetting No.8 seed Amanda Sobhy and the higher ranked Milou van der Heijden to book her last 16 berth.
The World No.42 fought back from a game down to level, but El Hammamy had the edge as she took the next two games to complete an 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9 victory which will see her play France’s Camille Serme for a place in the semi-finals of the biggest event on the women’s tour.
“I’m so pleased that I got through this match,” said El Hammamy.
“I was a little bit nervous at the beginning of the match. We have played so many times throughout our junior careers and I’m sure we’re going to have a lot more matches on the PSA Tour.
“I know that Siva likes to hold and make the opponent run all over the court, so I wanted to keep my shots tight and push her into the back corners. I ran out of my plan a little bit in the middle of the match, but I’m glad I managed to win."
Serme got the better of Egypt’s Yathreb Adel to earn her quarter-final spot. The French World No.4 was at her clinical best in the first two games to comfortably build up a two-game lead. Adel came back at Serme in the third, but the Frenchwoman comfortably dealt with it to secure a place in the quarter-finals of this event for the seventh successive season.
“I think I was more more precise today than the first match,” said 30-year-old Serme afterwards.
“I found good targets and better rhythm as well, so I’m happy with my performance tonight. I’m looking forward to facing Hania. I played her in France in Nantes not so long ago and it was a really good match, so I’m ready for a battle.”
Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini also booked her spot in the last eight after dismantling India’s Joshna Chinappa in a comfortable 11-5, 11-3, 11-6 victory. The defending champion completed the win in just 21 minutes, and will line up against New Zealand’s Joelle King in the next round.
“I think I felt sharper tonight. I’m getting better every match and I’m more confident," El Sherbini said.
"I’m really happy to be in the quarters and I’m looking forward to the next round. Joelle is very tough and one of the best players on tour. It’s always a tough match against her, but I’m really looking forward to it and I can’t wait to get back on court.”
She will take on New Zealand’s Joelle King for a place in the semis, with King overcoming World No.10 Annie Au. The last time the two players met was also in Egypt and it was the Hong Kong player who walked away with the victory. However, King turned things around to reign victorious this time around, showing her mental resilience to claim an 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 16-14 victory.
Results - Third Round (Bottom Half): 2019-20 CIB PSA Women’s World Championship
[3] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [15] Yathreb Adel (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-2, 11-6 (28m)
[14] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) 3-1: 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9 (53m)
[6] Joelle King (NZL) bt [10] Annie Au (HKG) 3-1: 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 16-14 (49m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [12] Joshna Chinappa (IND) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-6 (21m)
Draw – Quarter-Finals (Top Half): To Be Played October 29th
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [5] Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [4] Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Draw – Quarter-Finals (Bottom Half): To Be Played October 30th
[3] Camille Serme (FRA) v [14] Hania El Hammamy (EGY)
[6] Joelle King (NZL) v [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
