Thursday, March 28, 2024

Raneem El Welily is top seed in Brooklyn bonanza

Top seed Raneem El Welily in action at Heights Casino last year
Top seed Raneem El Welily in action at Heights Casino last year

Weymuller Open to hit the Heights again in Brooklyn
By NATHAN CLARKE

Squash fans attending the 2015 Carol Weymuller Open will be treated to some of the best squash ever witnessed in New York when five of the world’s top ten players will descend on Brooklyn’s Heights Casino on Monday October 1st for the PSA W50 tournament.

One of the most anticipated PSA Women’s events of the year, the Carol Weymuller has developed a reputation as a must-win tournament and this year the draw will be headed by Egyptian World No.2 Raneem El Welily – the dazzling shot-maker who has dominated on the PSA World Tour so far in 2015.

Alison Waters and Omneya Abdel Kawy in action during the 2014 final
Alison Waters and Omneya Abdel Kawy in action during the 2014 Weymuller final at Heights Casino

El Welily has claimed three of four major titles on offer in the calendar year and she’ll be keen to keep that run going as she bids to overtake Nicol David as the World No.1 – but with the likes of 2013 World Champion Laura Massaro and World Nos 6-8 – Alison Waters, Omneya Abdel Kawy and Nour El Sherbini – all the in the mix, El Welily’s path to glory will be fraught with difficulty.

She will begin her title bid against compatriot and 2015 World Junior champion Nouran Gohar in a mouthwatering first round encounter before a potential quarter-final matchup with 2007 World Championship winner Rachel Grinham.

“We’re delighted to see such a varied selection of the world’s best players attending this year’s Carol Weymuler Open in what looks certain to be an incredibly exciting tournament here in Brooklyn,” said tournament promoter Linda Elriani.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome the stars of the sport to New York every year and this year’s draw promises to continue to build on our reputation as one of the most exciting and competitive tournaments on the PSA World Tour and I cannot wait to see everything get underway in October.”

The 2014 edition was won by England’s Alison Waters, who beat Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy in the final. Number three seed Waters had beaten El Welily in a five-game semi-final spectacular, while Abdel Kawy had removed top seed Laura Massaro.

Carol Weymuller Open, Heights Casino, Brooklyn, New York, USA (First Round draw):

[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v Nouran Gohar (EGY)
[Qualifier] v [8] Rachael Grinham (AUS)
[5] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v Delia Arnold (MAS)
Jenny Duncalf (ENG) v [4] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY)
[3] Alison Waters (ENG) v [WC] Joelle King (NZL)
[Qualifier] v [6] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
[7] Emma Beddoes (ENG) v [Qualifier] [Qualifier] v [2] Laura Massaro (ENG)

The 2015 Carol Weymuller Open gets under way at the Heights Casino, Brooklyn on Thursday October 1. 

Pictures by JEAN ERVASTI courtesy of Heights Casino 

 

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