Shabana Survives Hong Kong Opener
by Howard Harding




photos courtesy Steve Cubbins

4 December 2013 - Egypt's five-time champion Amr Shabana moved comfortably into the second round of the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open after beating French qualifier Mathieu Castagnet in straight games in today's opening round of the eighth and final PSA World Series squash event of the year at the Hong Kong Squash Centre.

"I'm very pleased to get through," said the 34-year-old No.6 seed (pictured above with Castagnet) after his 11-6, 16-14, 11-5 victory in 58 minutes. "Mathieu was a very tough opponent in the first round - I played him a few weeks ago in the World Championship and came through in a tough four-game match, so to get through is what it's all about.

"The second game was crucial," continued the champion from 2005 to 2009. "When I was 6-1 down, I knew I had to fight and that the whole game would change if I didn't stay in there. I was fortunate to win that second game but I stuck in there. It would have made a huge difference if he had won it.

"The easier the organisers make it for the players, the easier it is to perform and they always put on a good show here," continued the former World No.1 from Cairo. "It has been going on for over 25 years and the organisers always take care of us and it shows in the way the players are pumped up for this tournament.

"2013 was a very tough year for me. I have pulled out of a lot of tournaments so it would be good to end the year on a high and carry some momentum into 2014."

Shabana will now take on Nicolas Mueller after the Swiss number one also overcame a qualifier from France. But the World No.26 from Zurich was taken the full distance by Gregoire Marche - and had to save a match-ball against the 23-year-old ranked just two places lower before converting his own fourth match-ball to win 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 5-11, 15-13 after 89 minutes.

"We've played so many times in juniors and I won most of the huge battles we had, so I think that was in the back of both our minds," explained 24-year-old Mueller later. "I was 2/0 up but then he started to up his game and it became a real battle

"All credit to him for coming back from 2/0 down and fighting that hard. He played incredibly well but I'm really happy to get through."

England's World Champion Nick Matthew avenged his defeat by compatriot Daryl Selby in March's Kuwait PSA Cup by beating his England team-mate 11-5, 11-6, 13-11 in 54 minutes.

"I've lost to Daryl from ahead before so I was aware of that tonight," said the No.4 seed (pictured above with Selby), ranked three in the world, later. "My shot execution wasn't perfect but I'm pleased to progress."

Selby, who moved into the world top 10 this month, told his Twitter followers: "Really struggled on that court tonight. Frustratingly poor performance, was lucky to get anywhere near taking a game."

Matthew progresses to face Saurav Ghosal, the Indian No.1 who defeated France's World Series debutant Lucas Serme, a qualifier, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9.

Egypt's Tarek Momen ended local interest in the event when he beat Hong Kong No.1 Max Lee (both pictured above) 6-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-4. The eighth seed will now take on Olli Tuominen, the veteran Finn who celebrated his 12th appearance in the championships since 2000 by ousting Egyptian qualifier Omar Abdel Meguid 11-8, 11-9, 11-7.

France's No.2 seed Gregory Gaultier seemed in control of his match against Laurens Jan Anjema when he comfortably took the opening two games. But the Dutch champion fought back to take the third.

World No.2 Gaultier re-established his authority on the match, however, to win 11-8, 11-2, 10-12, 11-7 - and set up a second round clash with Karim Abdel Gawad.

The 22-year-old from Cairo became the sixth Egyptian to make the last 16 when he fought back from 2/1 down to beat English qualifier Joe Lee 12-10, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 in 80 minutes.

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

1st round (lower half of draw):
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-5, 11-6, 13-11 (54m)
Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [Q] Lucas Serme (FRA) 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 (40m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 5-11, 15-13 (89m)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 11-6, 16-14, 11-5 (58m)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Max Lee (HKG) 6-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-4 (58m)
Olli Tuominen (FIN) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (45m)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 12-10, 7-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 (80m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 11-8, 11-2, 10-12, 11-7 (59m)

2nd round line-up:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG)
[7] Borja Golan (ESP) v Chris Simpson (ENG)
[5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) v Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY)
[3] James Willstrop (ENG) v Simon Rosner (GER)
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Saurav Ghosal (IND)
[6] Amr Shabana (EGY) v Nicolas Mueller (SUI)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) v Olli Tuominen (FIN)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)