Max Lee topples top seed and now meets his brother Marwan
By NATHAN CLARKE
Hong Kong’s Max Lee pulled off one of the biggest wins of his career as he knocked out reigning World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy in the first round of the 2015 Stars On The Bund China Open during a day packed full of surprises in Shanghai.
Wold No.18 Lee came from 2-1 down against Elshorbagy, who has been No.1 for 11 consecutive months, to complete a remarkable 3-2 win.
His 72-minute victory sees him move into the quarter-finals and consigned Elshorbagy to a humbling defeat on his first outing following the summer break.
Elshorbagy started brightly to take a tense opening game and, despite rallying to take the third game and a potentially crucial 2-1 lead, looked out of sorts as Lee pressed his advantage to secure the match and set up a last eight encounter with Marwan Elshorbagy – younger brother of Mohamed and current World No.12 – after he too upset the odds to defeat compatriot Tarek Momen.
Triple delight for Hong Kong
Lee’s victory made it a triple delight for Hong Kong as Leo Au, who vanquished former World No.1 James Willstrop in a huge qualification upset to earn his first round berth, produced a second successive giant-killing performance, taking out World No.7 Simon Rösner after a compelling 52-minute, 3-1 encounter.
Leo’s sister Annie also overcame Australian veteran Rachael Grinham 3-2. clinching victory 11-9 in the fifth game, to set up a quarter-final clash with the new women’s world number one, Raneem El Welily.
England’s Tom Richards completed a quartet of upsets in the first round as he ruthlessly saw off compatriot Peter Barker, the World No.8, in a powerful 3-0 performance to set up a quarter-final match up with French World No.2 and new tournament favourite Gregory Gaultier.
In the women’s PSA W50 tournament, newly crowned World No.1 El Welily showed no signs of nerves as she got her 2015-16 season off to a winning start by seeing off compatriot Heba El Torky 3-1.
El Welily took just 32-minutes to ensure her place in the last eight as she looks to get her reign as World No.1 off to a winning start but knows a determined Nicol David, who El Welily knocked from top spot after a nigh-year reign, could lay in wait if she reaches the final after the Malaysian eased past Coline Aumard in her opening encounter.
American Amanda Sobhy, who dispatched Delia Arnold 3-0, and Frenchwomen Camille Serme, who saw off former World No.2 Jenny Duncalf 3-1, will be hoping to stop the charge of the top two as they impressed in their respective first round victories while talented young Egyptian star Nouran Gohar caused the only upset of the day by taking out number six seed Joelle King in straight games.
2015 Stars On The Bund China Open
PSA M100 – First Round Results:
Max Lee (HKG) bt [1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) 3-2: 12-14, 12-10, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6 (72 mins)
Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [6] Tarek Momen (EGY) 3-0: 11-8,14-12,11-8 (45 mins)
[8] Borja Golan (ESP) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-7, 11-7 (63 mins)
[4] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [WC] Ivan Yuen (MAS) 3-0: 11-3, 11-8, 11-6
[Q] Leo Au (HKG) bt [3] Simon Rösner (GER) 3-1: 9-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-8 (52m)
[7] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Greg Lobban (SCO) 3-1: 3-11, 11-1, 11-7, 11-9 (64m)
[Q] Tom Richards (ENG) by [5] Peter Barker (ENG) 3-0: 14-12, 11-5, 11-3 (50m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (45m)
PSA M100 – Quarter-final Draw:
Max Lee (HKG) v Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY)
[8] Borja Golan (ESP) v [4] Omar Mosaad (EGY)
[Q] Leo Au (HKG) v [7] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)
[Q] Tom Richards (ENG) v [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
PSA W50 – First Round Results:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Coline Aumard (FRA) 3-1: 11-6,11-8,10-12,11-5 (43 mins)
Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [6] Joelle King (NZL) 3-0: 14-12, 11-4, 11-5 (34 mins)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [Q] Donna Urquhart (AUS) 3-2: 11-8,7-11,7-11,11-1,11-6 (53 mins)
[3] Camille Serme (FRA) bt Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 (45m)
[4] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [Q] Delia Arnold (MAS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-1, 11-6 (23 mins)
[8] Emma Beddoes (ENG) bt [WC] Teh Min Jie (MAS) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (24mins)
[5] Annie Au (HKG) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 3-2: 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 8-11, 11-9 (64 mins)
[2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [Q] Heba El Torky (EGY) 3-1: 5-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-5 (32m)
PSA W50 – Quarter-final Draw:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) v Nouran Gohar (EGY)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) v [3] Camille Serme (FRA)
[4] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [8] Emma Beddoes (ENG)
[5] Annie Au (HKG) v [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Picture courtesy of PSA