Ashour, Willstrop Advance as Brits Waller & Simpson Score Hong Kong Upsets
by Howard Harding




photos courtesy Steve Cubbins

3 December 2013 - Englishmen Chris Simpson and Adrian Waller claimed notable world top 20 scalps in today's men's first round of the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open to advance unexpectedly to the last 16 of the eighth and final PSA World Series squash event of the year at the Hong Kong Squash Centre.

Simpson, the World No.25 from Guernsey, took out in-form South African Stephen Coppinger 11-8, 12-10, 11-5 in 51 minutes.

"It was a very tough match and I'm really pleased to win," said the Harrogate-based 26-year-old later (pictured above with Coppinger, foreground). "There are no easy matches - Steve is ranked 16 so that's a big win for me."

In one of the final matches of the day, Waller became the only qualifier to survive when he recovered from a game down to beat Australian Cameron Pilley, the World No.14, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 in 54 minutes.

"I'm pleased with how I executed my game tonight and pleased to progress," said the jubilant 23-year-old from Enfield, ranked 31 in the world. "Cameron is a really good player and you can never take a top 20 player lightly whether you are above or below them so it's really pleasing for me to get through."

The pair will be joined in the next round by fellow countryman James Willstrop, the third seed who brushed aside England team-mate Adrian Grant, a former World No.9, 11-1, 11-3, 11-1 in just 28 minutes.

Londoner Grant, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, summed up his game succinctly to his Twitter followers later: "Wow that was bad," said the World No.23.

Former World No.1 Willstrop was delighted with his opening effort: "Sometimes you just hit the mark. I played well today and it went my way but I have to refocus now on the next round.

"I've had a few short tournaments recently which adds a bit of perspective to me. I felt fresh today and that's probably right as I've had a few more days off than some of the other players," added the 30-year-Yorkshireman. "Played an accurate game today and sometime it just works - very happy to play like that today. I have a lot of respect for Adrian, we've had some real tough games in the past but it all went my way today.

"Very pleased. When you get to my age you know not to get carried away with it - you just have to take confidence from it and refocus on the next game.

Much was expected of top seed Ramy Ashour, the World No.1 from Egypt who was making his PSA World Tour comeback after a hamstring injury brought to an end his sensational 49-match unbeaten run in last month's PSA World Championship semi-finals.

The 26-year-old from Cairo despatched Malaysian qualifier Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (both pictured in action above) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5.

"I will stay worried for the rest of the tournament," admitted Ashour afterwards. "I'm not going to be over cautious, but just cautious, and will stick strictly to what the doctors have advised me to do, whether it's the practice time, the warm up, the stretching. That way, if something happens - God forbids - I know I would have done everything possible.

"Tomorrow, whoever I play will be a tough match - whether Cameron, I just had a four-setter with him, very tough, or Waller, same, he is a tough opponent, won't be easy.

"I'm just happy to play, I want to enjoy my squash, and do my best."

Ashour was joined in the last 16 round by Egypt's Elshorbagy brothers Mohamed and Marwan.

Fifth seed Mohamed Elshorbagy, fresh from lifting his career-first World Series title at last month's Qatar Classic, disappointed the local crowd by beating Hong Kong wild card Leo Au 13-11, 11-1, 11-5 (both pictured above).

His younger brother Marwan Elshorbagy - fresh from winning the Edmonton Open in Canada at the weekend - defeated Australian Ryan Cuskelly 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 11-8.

For only the second time ever on the Tour, the two Alexandrians will now face each other for a place in the Hong Kong Open quarter-finals!

RESULTS: PSA World Series Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open, Hong Kong

1st round (top half of draw):
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [Q] Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (25m)
[Q] Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 7-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (54m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 11-8, 12-10, 11-5 (51m)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Ong Beng Hee (MAS) 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 (36m)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [WC] Leo Au (HKG) 13-11, 11-1, 11-5 (30m)
Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 11-8, 10-12, 11-7, 11-8 (54m)
Simon Rosner (GER) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 11-5, 11-8, 11-8 (42m)
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-1, 11-3, 11-1 (28m)