Egyptian trio Salma Hany, Malak Khafagy and Yahya Elnawasany claimed impressive wins on day two of the 2024 J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions as they claimed places in round three of the PSA World Tour Platinum event.
Khafagy was first to secure her place in round three, a first appearance in the last sixteen for the 19-year-old. She defeated Hong Kong’s Tomato Ho in straight games at the Nicol Squash Club, avenging her 3-2 loss from the New Zealand Open.
Khafagy now faces top seed and idol Nour ElSherbini on Saturday and can’t wait to step onto court with the World No.1.
“Last time I played her [Tomato Ho] I was 2-0 up and I lost so I was devastated with the way I dealt with the match,” she said.
“Now I won in three, I’m so proud with how solid I was and I’m excited. Coming here I wasn’t expecting anything and I wanted to play my best and I wanted to enjoy it. Now I’ve beaten them both, it means everything to me and I super overwhelmed and I don’t know how to process everything right now!
“Nour [El Sherbini] is my role model and we grew up watching her at the same club. We train together, I see her every day, she’s like an older sister to me and I’m super excited to play with her. It’s a pleasure to be on court with her.”
Compatriot Salma Hany was up against No.5 seed Georgina Kennedy in her opening match of the tournament. A tough match on paper for both players, which proved to be the case on the all-glass court in Grand Central Station.
Hany battled back from 2-1 down to down World No.6 Kennedy and reach the last sixteen of a Platinum event for the fifth time this season.
After overcoming Switzerland’s Nicolas Mueller in round one, Yahya Elnawasany scored another big win on day two as he defeated compatriot Aly Abou Eleinen to book his place in the third round. Three tight games went the way of the younger Egyptian, who will now face No.3 seed Paul Coll.
Results: J.P Morgan Tournament of Champions 2024 Men’s RD2
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-0: 11-2, 13-11, 11-2 (31m)Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 3-1: 4-11, 11-8, 11-9, 13-11 (42m)
Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-1: 12-14, 11-8, 11-5, 11-2 (63m)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Faraz Khan (USA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (31m) [7] Marwan Elshorbagy (ENG) bt Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG) 3-1: 12-10, 11-7, 10-12, 11-9 (44m)Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Youssef Soliman (EGY) 3-2: 11-7, 12-10, 8-11, 6-11, 11-4 (81m)
Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) bt Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 3-0: 15-13, 11-9, 16-14 (62m)
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Eain Yow Ng (MAS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-8, 11-3 (35m)Results: J.P Morgan Tournament of Champions 2024 Women’s RD2
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (22m)Malak Khafagy (EGY) bt Tomato Ho (HKG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 (33m)
Lucy Beecroft (ENG) bt Georgia Adderley (SCO) 3-2: 6-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-9 (65m)
[8] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Farida Mohamed (EGY) 3-1: 11-5, 11-3, 9-11, 11-4 (34m)Salma Hany (EGY) bt [5] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 3-2: 12-10, 8-11, 10-12, 11-3, 11-7 (57m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt Hana Ramadan (EGY) 3-1: 11-5, 11-7, 5-11, 11-8 (33m)
Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt Nicole Bunyan (CAN) 3-0: 11-9, 13-11, 11-4 (34m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt Hana Moataz (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-8 (34m)Draw: Men’s RD2 – to be played 19 January
[4] Mostafa Asal (EGY) v Patrick Rooney (ENG)Greg Lobban (SCO) v Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)
Nathan Lake (ENG) v Mohamed Elsherbini (EGY)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) v [5] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG)
[6] Mazen Hesham (EGY) v Auguste Dussourd (FRA)Fares Dessouky (EGY) v Miguel Rodriguez (COL)
Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) v Nick Wall (ENG)
[WC] Andrew Douglas (USA) v [2] Diego Elias (PER)Draw: Women’s RD2 – to be played 19 January
[4] Nele Gilis (BEL) v Sana Ibrahim (EGY)Rowan Elaraby (EGY) v Lucy Turmel (ENG)
Amina Orfi (EGY) v Nadine Shahin (EGY)
[WC] Caroline Fouts (USA) v [7] Tinne Gilis (BEL) [6] Nour ElTayeb (EGY) v Emily Whitlock (WAL)Sabrina Sobhy (USA) v Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS)
Zeina Mickawy (EGY) v Mariam Metwally (EGY)
Rachel Arnold (MAS) v [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY)