Ali Farag win HSC Houston Men’s Squash Open 2024

World No.1 Ali Farag defeated fellow Egyptian Mazen Hesham 11-4 11-9 11-5 in the final of the HSC 2024 Houston Men’s Squash Open to win his 38th Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour career title and fifth of the 2023-24 squash season with a masterful 38-minute victory.

Mazen Hesham, who produced some dazzling squash enroute to the final, notably upsetting both Mostafa Asal and Mohamed Elshorbagy in gripping five-game battles, proved unable to match the subline skills of the reigning World No.1.

Ali Farag's path to victory had been marked by his trademark efficiency, having dropped just one game in his preceding three matches of the tournament. The World No.1 set the tempo from the opening rallies of the final and dictated the play throughout the encounter, patiently manoeuvring Mazen Hesham around the court and asserting dominance at the T to clinch the first game 11-4 in a mere nine minutes.

Despite valiant efforts to rally in the second game, mirroring his comeback in the semi-finals against Mohamed Elshorbagy, Mazen Hesham couldn’t build any long-lasting momentum and despite levelling the score 7-7, was unable to prevent Ali Farag from surging ahead once more and securing three game balls at 10-7. Although Mazen Hesham thwarted the first two attempts, controversy marred the third, as a mid-rally dispute ensued regarding Farag's positioning. Hesham's call for a review backfired, with the video referee awarding Ali Farag the game with a decisive no let, much to his challenger’s dismay.

Mazen Hesham struggled to regain any footing in the subsequent exchanges as Ali Farag swiftly closed out the third game in just seven minutes, sealing his win with a decisive forehand drive down the line.

Professional Squash Association (PSA HSC Houston Men's Squash Open 2024, Houston Squash Club, Houston, Texas, USA
Final:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 11-4, 11-9, 11-5 (36m)

Professional Squash Association (PSA HSC Houston Men's Squash Open 2024, Houston Squash Club, Houston, Texas, USA
Semi-Finals:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)     11-7, 11-3, 11-5 (27m)
[5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG)     5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-5 (62m)

Professional Squash Association (PSA HSC Houston Men's Squash Open 2024, Houston Squash Club, Houston, Texas, USA
Quarter-Finals:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [6] Tarek Momen (EGY) 8-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-9 (61m)
[4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [9/16] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 5-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-5, 11-9 (69m)
[5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [3] Mostafa Asal (EGY) 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 1-11, 12-10 (88m)
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 11-1, 11-8, 11-6 (31m)

Professional Squash Association (PSA HSC Houston Men's Squash Open 2024, Houston Squash Club, Houston, Texas, USA
2nd Round:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Farkas Balazs (HUN)     11-9, 11-9, 11-7 (27m)
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Leung Chi Hin Henry (HKG) 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 (31m)
[9/16] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt [8] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 9-11, 14-12, 11-5, 11-2 (66m)
[4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt [9/16] Timothy Brownell (USA) 6-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-8 (70m)
[3] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) 11-5, 11-3, 11-4 (31m)
[5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [9/16] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 11-6, 11-3, 11-2 (28m)
[7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt [9/16] Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) 11-9, 5-11, 11-2, 11-3 (54m)
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-5, 14-12, 11-8 (35m)

Professional Squash Association (PSA HSC Houston Men's Squash Open 2024, Houston Squash Club, Houston, Texas, USA
1st Round:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bye
Farkas Balazs (HUN) bt [9/16] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) 11-5, 8-11, 14-12, 11-6 (59m)
Leung Chi Hin Henry (HKG) bt [9/16] Ramit Tandon (IND) 5-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-6, 11-6 (56m)
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY) bye
[8] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bye
[9/16] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt Andrew Douglas (USA) 11-6, 12-14, 11-6, 11-3 (51m)
[9/16] Timothy Brownell (USA) bt [WC] Muhammad Huzaifa Ibrahim (PAK) 12-10, 11-2, 11-6 (31m)
[4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bye
[3] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bye
Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) bt [9/16] David Baillargeon (CAN) 8-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-5 (52m)
[9/16] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) bt Simon Herbert (ENG) 6-11, 11-8, 6-11, 11-5, 11-7 (64m)
[5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bye
[7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bye
[9/16] Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt Faraz Khan (USA) 11-7, 11-2, 11-7 (35m)
Cesar Salazar (MEX) bt [9/16] Rory Stewart (SCO) 11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-1 (48m)
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bye

The 2024 HSC Houston Men’s Squash Open starts today Houston Squash Club in Texas, USA. Headlining the PSA Word Tour event will be the reigning World No.1 and previous Houston Squash Open Champion, Ali Farag, who assumes the top seed position. Ali Farag, poised to secure his fifth title of the season and second of the New Year, recently reaffirmed his dominance by clinching the prestigious J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions title in New York.

However, the path to victory will be fiercely contested, with formidable adversaries vying for the coveted trophy. Defending champion Mostafa Asal and runner-up Mohamed Elshorbagy, seeded second and third respectively, pose significant threats to the World No.1. Moustafa Asal will be determined to defend the title he won in spectacular style last year, whilst Mohamed Elshorbagy maintains his relentless pursuit of his 50th PSA World Tour title.

Karim Abdel Gawad, fresh from his recent triumph at the Pittsburgh Squash Open, completes the top four seeds, brimming with confidence and eager to extend his remarkable winning streak. With his exceptional form and familiarity with the venue, Karim Abdel Gawad emerges as a formidable contender capable of seizing another title.

The 5/8 seeding bracket introduces further intrigue, with Egyptian duo Mazen Hesham and Tarek Momen poised to unsettle the hierarchy. Joining them will be Colombia's Miguel Rodriguez and France's Baptiste Masotti.

HSC Houston Men’s Squash Open:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY)
Farkas Balazs (HUN) v [9/16] Yahya Elnawasany (EGY)
[9/16] Ramit Tandon (IND) v Leung Chi Hin Henry (HKG)
[6] Tarek Momen (EGY)
[8] Baptiste Masotti (FRA)
Andrew Douglas (USA) v [9/16] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)
[9/16] Timothy Brownell (USA) v [WC] Muhammad Huzaifa Ibrahim (PAK)
[4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
[3] Mostafa Asal (EGY)
Juan Camilo Vargas (COL) v [9/16] David Baillargeon (CAN)
[9/16] Karim El Hammamy (EGY) v Simon Herbert (ENG)
[5] Mazen Hesham (EGY)
[7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL)
Faraz Khan (USA) v [9/16] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA)
[9/16] Rory Stewart (SCO) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)
[2] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG)