Nothing raises the heartbeat more than a raucous home crowd echoing across the famous Grand Central Terminal – especially if it’s a home player likely coming up trumps against the odds.
Step forward USA’s World No.26 Timothy Brownell, who battled back from 1-0 down to stun World No.7 Marwan ElShorbagy on the opening day of the Tournament of Champions.
The US No.1 was 1-0 down after ElShorbagy held his nerve in a close opening game, winning 11-9, but Brownell roared back in stunning fashion in the second to restore parity with a dominant 11-1 triumph.
ElShorbagy, who was runner-up in 2023 to Diego Elias, squandered four game balls in the third as he looked to reclaim his lead, but Brownell kept his cool in the tiebreak to nudge 2-1 in front.
England No.1 ElShorbagy had an opportunity to force a decider with two game balls in the fourth game but Brownell, backed by a partisan crowd, saved both opportunities before two strokes in his favour earned him the victory on home turf by a 9-11, 11-1, 13-11, 13-11 scoreline.
“I’m thrilled. I’ve got a lot of work to do with recovery to get ready for the next round, but I’m really happy with the way I fought and my team and everything was to the nines. We got everything done and I think we deserved it today,” he said.
“We were within striking distance the whole way. I really felt the way the points were played on the day that he was a bit slower off the ’T’.
“I decided to keep fighting the whole way and I didn’t think it was ever that far to reach – maybe in the third game when I was a few points back. I looked back at my corner and kept fighting and you’ve got to make them earn it at this level.”
Elsewhere, Youssef Ibrahim avenged his China Open final defeat to Mohamed Abouelghar by coming from behind to see off his Egyptian compatriot 3-1 in the final match of the day on the glass court, while former champion Karim Gawad recovered from 1-0 down to overcome Aly Abou Eleinen 3-1.
In the women’s draw, reigning champion Hania El Hammamy kicked off her title defence with a 3-0 success against Tomato Ho.
World No.1 El Hammamy, who toppled Nouran Gohar in last year’s final, was tested throughout by the Hong Kong No.2, but the Egyptian was able to pull clear at the business end of each game to claim a 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 victory.
Kenzy Ayman held off a resurgence from her fellow Egyptian Nour Aboulmakarim to 3-2 in just under an hour at New York Athletic Club, with Sana Ibrahim also prevailing in an all-Egyptian clash with Mariam Metwally.
Results – Women’s Round One (top half): Sprott Tournament of Champions 2026 presented by Crowd Street
[1] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt. Tomato Ho (HKG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 (31m)
Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt. Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 3-2: 11-8, 12-10, 7-11, 10-12, 11-6 (56m)
Anahat Singh (IND) bt. Lucy Turmel (ENG) 3-1: 11-3, 11-6, 9-11, 13-11 (43m)
[6] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt. Nada Abbas (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-1, 11-5 (20m)
[7] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt. Rachel Arnold (MAS) 3-0: 14-12, 11-1, 12-10 (36m)
Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt. Hana Moataz (EGY) 3-1: 11-8, 11-13, 11-8, 11-7 (46m)
Sana Ibrahim (EGY) bt. Mariam Metwally (EGY) 3-1: 6-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (43m)
[3] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt. Hana Ramadan (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (26m)
Results – Men’s Round One (top half): Sprott Tournament of Champions 2026 presented by Crowd Street
[1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt. Fares Dessouky (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (53m)
Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) bt. Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-0: 11-2, 13-11, 11-7 (37m)
Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt. Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 (53m)
[5] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt. Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 3-1: 9-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (52m)
Timothy Brownell (USA) bt. [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) 3-1: 9-11, 11-1, 13-11, 13-11 (61m)
Jonah Bryant (ENG) bt. Hart Robertson (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (27m)
Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt. Mazen Hesham (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-6, 11-7 (36m)
[4] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt. Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 3-1: 5-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-5 (54m)
Draw – Women’s Round One (bottom half): Sprott Tournament of Champions 2026 presented by Crowd Street
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) v Hollie Naughton (CAN)
Aira Azman (MAS) v Marina Stefanoni (USA)
Zeina Mickawy (EGY) v Amanda Sobhy (USA)
Georgia Adderley (SCO) v [5] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS)
[8] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) v Ka Yi Lee (HKG)
Lucy Beecroft (ENG) v Laila Sedky (USA)
Aifa Azman (MAS) v Nele Gilis (BEL)
Lily Bourell (USA) v [2] Amina Orfi (EGY)
Draw – Men’s Round One (bottom half): Sprott Tournament of Champions 2026 presented by Crowd Street
[3] Diego Elias (PER) v Dimitri Steinmann (SUI)
Greg Lobban (SCO) v Kareem El Torkey (EGY)
Eain Yow Ng (MAS) v Curtis Malik (ENG)
Juan Vargas (COL) v [8] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG)
[7] Victor Crouin (FRA) v Dillon Huang (USA)
Iker Pajares (ESP) v Abhay Singh (IND)
Declan James (ENG) v Bernat Jaume (ESP)
Auguste Dussourd (FRA) v [2] Paul Coll (NZL)