Sobhy and David Star Attractions in Ciudad de Floridablanca Draw by Sean Reuthe
photos PSA
February 8, 2017
- United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy and Malaysia’s eight-time World
Champion Nicol David are seeded to meet in a mouthwatering final
encounter after the draw for the inaugural Ciudad de Floridablanca was
released today (February 8).
Staged on a specially constructed glass court on the picturesque Parque
el Santisimo, the Ciudad de Floridablanca - which takes place between
March 8-11 - is the most lucrative Women’s South American squash
tournament of all time, with Sobhy and David the favourites to take a
share of the $70,000 prize fund.
Harvard-graduate Sobhy currently sits at a career-high World No.6
ranking after impressing in a season which has seen her claim runner-up
finishes at both the Hong Kong Open and NetSuite Open.
The charismatic 23-year-old will face a qualifier in round one - which
coincides with International Women's Day - and is seeded to lock horns
with Egypt’s World No.9 Omneya Abdel Kawy in the semi-finals.
World No.7 David, meanwhile, is at her lowest ranking since 2004, and
will be targeting a return to form in Colombia. The legendary
33-year-old also takes on a qualifier in the opening round, with former
World No.3 Alison Waters seeded to await the Malaysian in the
semi-final stage.
Waters will need to negotiate a tough first round clash with Welsh
World No.21 Tesni Evans, however, while tournament wildcard Catalina
Pelaez has been drawn against England’s World No.15 Emily Whitlock.
The Ciudad de Floridablanca is the first standalone Women’s tournament
outside of a World Championship to be broadcast live on SQUASHTV and
Eurosport Player and fans can get involved in the conversation by using
the official tournament hashtag: #PSAfloridablanca
2017 Ciudad de Floridablanca – First Round Draw:
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [Qualifier]
Heba El Torky (EGY) v [5] Annie Au (HKG)
[6] Emily Whitlock (ENG) v [WC] Catalina Pelaez (COL)
Olivia Blatchford (USA) v [4] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) v Tesni Evans (WAL)
[Qualifier] v [7] Victoria Lust (ENG)
[8] Joey Chan (HKG) v [Qualifier]
[Qualifier] v [2] Nicol David (MAS)
Qualification for the 2017 Ciudad de Floridablanca takes place between
March 6-7, while the main draw will be played between March 8-11.
