Hamstring hinders Egyptian maestro
By SEAN REUTHE
Three-time El Gouna International Squash Open champion Ramy Ashour has withdrawn from the 2017 edition of the World Series tournament after failing to recover from a hamstring strain sustained during last month’s Allam British Open.
Ashour, who won the tournament in 2012, 2014 and 2015, will be replaced as the event’s number five seed by former World No.1 James Willstrop, while Germany’s World No.10 Simon Rösner moves into the number eight seeded position and will play a qualifier in round one.
A lucky loser, a randomly selected player who loses in the final round of qualifying, will move into the main draw once qualification is completed and will take on Spain’s World No.15 Borja Golan.
2017 El Gouna International Men’s Squash Open
Revised Main Draw:
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) v [Qualifier]
Cameron Pilley (AUS) v [Qualifier]
Omar Mosaad (EGY) v [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
[5] James Willstrop (ENG) v Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Paul Coll (NZL) v [Qualifier]
Tarek Momen (EGY) v [Qualifier]
[WC] Marwan Tarek (EGY) v [3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v Fares Dessouky (EGY)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [Qualifier]
Cesar Salazar (MEX) v [Qualifier]
Diego Elias (PER) v [7] Ali Farag (EGY)
[8] Simon Rösner (GER) v [Qualifier]
Saurav Ghosal (IND) v [Qualifier]
Borja Golan (ESP) v [Lucky Loser]
Zahed Mohamed (EGY) v [2] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Qualification for the El Gouna International Squash Open takes place between April 5-6, while the main draw will be held between April 7-14, with glass court matches taking place at the New Marina.
Tickets for the tournament can be purchased at www.e7gezly.com/event/elgounaintlsquashopen and 50% of the ticket price will go to Abu Reesh Hospitals.
Picture courtesy of PSA