Ali Farag & Nour El Sherbini Crowned British Open Champions

Ali Farag and Nour El Sherbini were crowned British Open champions at the spectacular Rep Theatre in the heart of Birmingham, England with the two Egyptians overcoming Diego Elias and Nouran Gohar in their respective finals.

Competing in his fourth consecutive final and despite observing Ramadan, and therefore not eating and drinking during daylight hours, Egypt’s Ali Farag produced a momentous performance to overcome the soon-to-be World No.1 Diego Elias to win his first British Open title.

Diego Elias, who will replace the suspended Mostafa Asal as World No.1 and who had previously never progressed the quarterfinals, produced a successive impressive wins enroute to his maiden final, defeating Joel Makin in his opening match, followed by victories over Nathan Lake, Victor Crouin and defending Champion Paul Coll.

Farag, who had previously been defeated by Mohamed ElShorbagy in 2019 followed by losses to New Zealand’s Paul Coll in the last two years, needed a tiebreak to secure a hard-fought first game and despite Elias levelling the match at one game apiece, the Peruvian, who will be the sport’s first South American World No.1, was unable prevent Farag from securing a deserved 59-minute victory.

“So many great emotions at the time winning the 'Wimbledon of Squash',” said Farag after his popular victory. “This is something that has been eluding for me the past few years and I’ve been trying very hard to do it. I came up short against some great champions in the past, and I was up against another great champion today.

"It was lucky it went my way and I would like to congratulate Diego. Coming out of Peru and becoming World No.1 is an unbelievable achievement. In our part of the world, we have so many great champions in the past who gave us belief and we look at their pathway to get there. It’s not handed on a silver platter, and we have to work really hard to get there, but for Diego growing up on his own with his dad working hard every single day and seeking the advice from the best like Jonathon Power and Wael El Hindi, he’s worked hard and done extremely well for his goal and he’s got there. Kudos to him!

“There is a lot confidence that gets taken away from you and you need people behind you back to make you believe that you’ve still got it. The first one is always going to be Nour [El Tayeb]. She sees the worst of me and the worst of me is not easy to deal with! She’s been brilliant and patient with me and she’s been going through it with her shoulder injury, so I’ve been very blessed to have her on my side in that regard.

"Last but not least, the supporters & crowd today. We’ve played in so many great venues before, but this is definitely up there as one of the best venues we’ve ever played at. You are probably the most knowledgeable crowd we play in front of – the English crowd are the ones who understand the most about squash. This is where the sport started, and this is where the legacy is. To play in front of you guys is an amazing feeling.”

In the all-Egyptian women’s final, Nour El Sherbini triumphed unexpectedly against Nouran Gohar who faced each other in their third British Open final. El Sherbini, the current World No.3 who had defeated her compatriot in 2016 and 2021, produced a typically clinical performance to close-out an 11-9 11-7 11-1 victory in just 42 minutes to win the sport’s oldest trophy for the fourth time.

“It’s amazing. The British Open is a dream for every player to put their name on it and I’ve done it four times, which is something I’m very proud of. It’s an achievement I will always remember," explained El Sherbini to the capacity crowd.

"Coming here, I always wanted to win, but at the start of the week, it wasn’t going my way and I didn’t think I was going to be standing here. But I kept pushing and just saw what was going to happen in each match and I’m really happy to be standing here right now.

“I kept calling my whole team this week and I thought 'I never speak to them this much'! They gave huge support. With Gregory Gaultier here as well as my coach back home we put a plan together and we kept talking and they have been the main supporters this week.

"As well as them, my fitness coach and my sponsors – they are the whole team behind me. My family, my parents, my brother and my fiancée and everyone giving me the support they should be giving me! It’s tough for them to watch me this week, especially during Ramadan. They’re having food now and watching and thank you for all the support. It’s a lot of people, but it’s not only me – it’s a group and I couldn’t do it without the support of each and every one of them.”

PSA British Open Squash Championships, The Rep, Birmingham, England
Men's Final:
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [1] Diego Elias (PER) 13-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-9 (59m)

Women's Final:
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 11-9, 11-7, 11-1 (42m)

Men's Semi-Finals:
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [7] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 11-4, 11-4, 8-11, 11-2 (42m)
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt [3] Paul Coll (NZL) 11-4, 11-3, 2-11, 11-1 (61m)

Women's Semi-Finals:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [4] Joelle King (NZL) 11-3, 11-9, 11-1 (33m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) 4-11, 11-5, 11-2, 9-11, 11-6 (59m)

Men's Quarter-Finals:
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [6] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-6, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8 (57m)
[7] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [9/16] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 6-11, 11-9, 14-12, 11-6 (63m)
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) v [5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
[1] Diego Elias (PER) v [8] Victor Crouin (FRA)

Women's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 (34m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bt [6] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) 11-13, 11-5, 10-12, 11-4, 11-5 (68m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) v [5] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG)

Men's 3rd Round:
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) 11-4, 8-11, 12-10, 11-4 (46m)
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 11-7, 11-6, 11-3 (29m)
[7] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 11-8, 5-11, 11-4, 11-3 (44m)
[9/16] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) 7-11, 11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9 (76m)
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [9/16] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-6, 11-9, 11-1 (51m)
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [9/16] Youssef Soliman (EGY) 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (46m)
[8] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt [9/16] Nicolas Müller (SUI) 5-11, 11-9, 11-6, 22-20 (71m)
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 (37m)

Women's 3rd Round:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [9/16] Nele Gilis (BEL) 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 (38m)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Nada Abbas (EGY) 11-7, 10-12, 11-3, 11-9 (37m)
[6] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt Tomato Ho (HKG) 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6 (45m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bt [9/16] Olivia Fiechter (USA) 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 (32m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt Emily Whitlock (WAL) 11-6, 11-4, 11-4 (30m)
[5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [9/16] Salma Hany (EGY) 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 (27m)
[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt [9/16] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 15-13, 11-9, 3-11, 5-11, 11-6 (71m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [9/16] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-2 (44m)

Men's 2nd Round:
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 11-6, 11-1, 11-2 (25m)
Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bt Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG) 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 11-2 (46m)
Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt Patrick Rooney (ENG) 12-10, 6-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5 (76m)
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-5, 11-4, 11-8 (25m)
[7] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Timothy Brownell (USA) 11-5, 11-13, 11-13, 11-4, 11-5 (68m)
Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt [9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA) 11-6, 2-11, 11-5, 11-2 (36m)
[9/16] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [9/16] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 5-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3 (61m)
[4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt Leonel Cardenas (MEX) 11-6, 11-9, 11-5 (30m)
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [WC] Curtis Malik (ENG) 11-4, 11-4, 11-3 (39m)
[9/16] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt Adrian Waller (ENG) 11-7, 6-11, 11-5, 11-5 (70m)
[9/16] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 5-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-3, 11-5 (84m)
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 12-10, 14-12, 7-11, 11-8 (67m)
[8] Victor Crouin (FRA) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 10-12, 9-11, 11-3, 11-2, 11-2 (59m)
[9/16] Nicolas Müller (SUI) bt [9/16] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-3 (46m)
Nathan Lake (ENG) bt Nick Wall (ENG) 11-7, 11-3, 11-13, 11-7 (51m)
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt [9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) 11-7, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8 (72m)

Women's 2nd round:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Mélissa Alves (FRA) 11-3, 11-8, 11-5 (35m)
[9/16] Nele Gilis (BEL) bt Mariam Metwally (EGY) 11-3 ret. (11m)
Nada Abbas (EGY) bt Lucy Turmel (ENG) 7-11, 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-7 (63m)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-8 (40m)
[6] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt Yathreb Adel (EGY) 11-9, 11-4, 11-2 (22m)
Tomato Ho (HKG) bt Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 6-11, 11-3, 11-9, 11-3 (37m)
[9/16] Olivia Fiechter (USA) bt Hollie Naughton (CAN) 9-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-2 (36m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bt [WC] Katie Malliff (ENG) 11-9, 11-3, 11-5 (30m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt Alexandra Fuller (RSA) 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 (32m)
Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt [9/16] Farida Mohamed (EGY) 12-10, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8 (47m)
[9/16] Salma Hany (EGY) bt Aifa Azman (MAS) 11-8, 4-11, 11-9, 11-4 (49m)
[5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [9/16] Olivia Clyne (USA) 8-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-3, 11-5 (50m)
[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bt Hana Ramadan (EGY) 11-6, 12-10, 11-3 (28m)
[9/16] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [9/16] Tesni Evans (WAL) 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8 (56m)
[9/16] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt Sana Ibrahim (EGY) 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 (38m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 15-13, 11-4, 11-8 (32m)

Men's 1st Round:
[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bye
Karim El Hammamy (EGY) bt Omar Mosaad (EGY) 11-13, 11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-6 (93m)
Tsz Kwan Lau (HKG) bt Shahjahan Khan (USA) 10-12, 11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 11-3 (50m)
Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bt Faraz Khan (USA) 11-6, 11-4, 11-4 (32m)
Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt Todd Harrity (USA) 11-5, 11-8, 11-6 (33m)
Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt Henry Leung (HKG) 11-7, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7 (60m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 11-5, 7-0 ret. (10m)
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bye
[7] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bye
Timothy Brownell (USA) bt Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-2 (53m)
Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 9-11, 11-3, 11-7, 7-11, 11-8 (54m)
[9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA) bye
[9/16] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bye
[9/16] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bye
Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt Balázs Farkas (HUN) 11-7, 11-4, 4-11, 11-6 (49m)
[4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bye
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bye
[WC] Curtis Malik (ENG) bt Eain Yow Ng (MAS) 11-7, 11-9, 11-5 (39m)
Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) 15-17, 11-4, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5 (61m)
[9/16] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bye
[9/16] Youssef Soliman (EGY) bye
Greg Lobban (SCO) bt George Parker (ENG) 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 4-11, 11-4 (74m)
Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) bt Lucas Serme (FRA) 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 (48m)
[5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bye
[8] Victor Crouin (FRA) bye
Raphael Kandra (GER) bt [WC] Simon Herbert (ENG) 10-12, 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-6 (51m)
[9/16] Nicolas Müller (SUI) bye
[9/16] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bye
Nathan Lake (ENG) bt Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 6-11, 11-4, 11-0, 11-0 (29m)
Nick Wall (ENG) bt Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 11-6 (62m)
[9/16] Joel Makin (WAL) bye
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bye

Women's 1st Round:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bye
Mélissa Alves (FRA) bt Cindy Merlo (SUI) 11-6, 11-6, 11-2 (20m)
Mariam Metwally (EGY) bt Ka Yi Lee (HKG) 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 9-11, 14-12 (50m)
[9/16] Nele Gilis (BEL) bye
Nada Abbas (EGY) bt Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) 7-11, 11-8, 12-10, 15-13 (49m)
Lucy Turmel (ENG) bt Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 12-10, 11-5, 11-7 (31m)
Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 (22m)
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bye
[6] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bye
Yathreb Adel (EGY) bt Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 5-11, 11-8, 11-6, 11-9 (40m)
Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 11-8 (40m)
Tomato Ho (HKG) bt Hana Moataz (EGY) 6-11, 11-4, 12-14, 11-9, 11-3 (52m)
[9/16] Olivia Fiechter (USA) bye
Hollie Naughton (CAN) bt Énora Villard (FRA) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (27m)
[WC] Katie Malliff (ENG) bt Rachel Arnold (MAS) 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 (29m)
[4] Joelle King (NZL) bye
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bye
Alexandra Fuller (RSA) bt Nicole Bunyan (CAN) 11-5, 11-6, 7-11, 10-12, 11-9 (53m)
[9/16] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bye
Emily Whitlock (WAL) bt Joshna Chinappa (IND) 13-11, 6-11, 13-11, 11-8 (51m)
Aifa Azman (MAS) bt Emilia Soini (FIN) 11-2, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4 (28m)
[9/16] Salma Hany (EGY) bye
[9/16] Olivia Clyne (USA) bye
[5] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bye
[8] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) bye
Hana Ramadan (EGY) bt Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 11-7, 11-7, 11-6 (24m)
[9/16] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bye
[9/16] Tesni Evans (WAL) bye
Sana Ibrahim (EGY) bt Nadine Shahin (EGY) 11-3, 11-9, 11-7 (31m)
[9/16] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bye
Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt [WC] Torrie Malik (ENG) 11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 12-10 (41m)
[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bye