17-year-old Egyptian Fayrouz Aboelkheir has reached her first Platinum event quarter final at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions 2024 after an impressive performance against compatriot Salma Hany.
Aboelkheir was aggressive in all areas and was determined to leave no stone unturned as she looked to continue her run in New York. The World No.35 pulled away in the opener to take the game 11-5 and showed no signs of slowing down.
Hany found her length in the second game and started to move her younger opponent into all four corners, but the teenager was more than up to the task and continued to impose herself on the match. After establishing a 2-0 lead, Aboelkheir claimed the third game 11-7 to move into her first quarter final at a Platinum event, where she will now face No.3 seed Hania El Hammamy.
“I feel amazing to be honest. To do this here in New York in Grand Central Terminal is a dream come true.” said Aboelkheir after her win.
“I’ve had a lot of time to think during my rest day. I was prepared and really wanted to win tonight. I was hungry for more. I made it to the last 16 but I wanted more. I’ll enjoy my win tonight and go back and recover and starting from tomorrow, i’ll prepare for the quarters. Hania [El Hammamy] beat me at the Grasshopper Cup so I want to get revenge for that.”
The other seeding upset of the day came from France’s Victor Crouin, who claimed his revenge over No.7 seed Marwan Elshorbagy, who defeated him in last years quarter final.
Crouin found himself 2-1 up in the clash but was pegged back to 2-2 by Elshorbagy, who needed to utilise all of his experience to stop the momentum of the Frenchman. The score reached 6-6 in the decider and it was Crouin who managed to pull ahead to 9-6 by using his movement to attack.
The World No.11 set himself up with three match balls at 10-7 and converted at the first time of asking to reach a second successive quarter final in New York.
Day five will see the remaining round three matches take place with action taking place on the iconic all-glass court inside Grand Central Terminal. Action will be available to watch live on SQUASHTV .
Stay up to date on the 2024 J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions on the PSA website or by following the PSA on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Results: J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions 2024 Men’s RD3 (top-half)
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 3-1: 8-11, 11-2, 11-1, 11-8 (42m)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 3-1: 11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 11-6 (60m)
Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [7] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) 3-2: 7-11, 12-10, 11-3, 9-11, 11-7 (75m)
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-3, 11-2 (33m)
Results: J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions 2024 Women’s RD3 (top-half)
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt Malak Khafagy (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (23m)
[8] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (33m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt Salma Hany (EGY) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-7 (32m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 3-1: 11-3, 5-11, 14-12, 12-10 (55m)
Draw: Men’s RD3 – to be played January 21
[6] Mazen Hesham v Fares Dessouky (EGY)
Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) v [2] Diego Elias (PER)
[4] Mostafa Asal (EGY) v Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
Nathan Lake (ENG) v [5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY)
Draw: Women’s RD3 – to be played January 21
Amina Orfi (EGY) v [7] Tinne Gilis (BEL)
[4] Nele Gilis (BEL) v Rowan Elaraby (EGY)
Mariam Metwally (EGY) v [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY)
[6] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v Sabrina Sobhy (USA)
Draw: Men’s quarter finals (top-half) – to be played January 22
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) v [8] Tarek Momen (EGY)
Victor Crouin v [3] Paul Coll (NZL)
Draw: Women’s quarter finals (top-half) – to be played January 22
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) v [8] Olivia Weaver (USA)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) v [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY)
