Egypt’s Farida Mohamed has won her maiden title on the PSA World Tour after overcoming her compatriot Fayrouz Aboelkheir 3-1 at the Carol Weymuller Open in Brooklyn, New York.
The World No.18 has tasted success on the PSA Challenger Tour, but she clinched her first-ever triumph on the World Tour after downing the World No.28 at the Bronze-level event.
The rallies were short and sharp as Mohamed overturned a 4-0 deficit in the opening game after a slow start, finding her targets towards the backend of the game. Both her game balls were saved by Aboelkheir, but Mohamed converted at the third attempt in the tiebreak.
Mohamed, who won their only previous meeting at the Rhode Island Open in 2022 on the Challenger Tour, increased her advantage as she dominated the second with an 11-4 victory.
Aboelkheir, featuring in her first final of a World Tour event, fought back from two games down in her semi final against Salma Hany yesterday and she began to use more height at the front to recover from 5-1 down to have two game balls, which she clinched at the first time of asking to halve the deficit.
The confidence was flowing from Aboelkheir as she move 6-4 up in the fourth, as the 17-year-old looked to repeat yesterday’s feat.
But Mohamed responded to diffuse the Aboelkheir comeback, tidying up her play which earned her four championship balls. Two were saved, but it was third time lucky for Mohamed to secure her first-ever title on the World Tour.
“It’s overwhelming – I really needed this one badly,” she said.
“I came here to win the event and I’m really happy with the mental stability I was in this week. I’m so glad – I don’t think I can reflect on anything right now.
“I’m just really happy and proud that I came through this tournament with all the challenges I faced since last year. I’m really happy.
“It’s so special [winning her first title on the World Tour], especially here where it’s home away from home because I studied in New York.
“This tournament is very special for me because it was where I had my first-ever win in round one. What made it extra special today was having my sister here on the coaching side. It was very special.”
The North American swing on the PSA World Tour continues with the Bahl and Gaynor Cincinnati Gaynor Cup 2024 and the Sturbridge Capital Motor City Open 2024, with both tournaments played between January 31 – February 4. Action from both Silver-level events will be streamed live on SQUASHTV.
Result: Carol Weymuller Open 2024 final
[4] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 3-1: 12-10, 11-4, 7-11, 11-8 (35m)
