Mostafa Asal & Nour El Sherbini crowned SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Squash Open Champions

Mostafa Asal and Nour El Sherbini were crowned champions at the SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Squash Open, the first PSA World Tour event of 2024 staged at the impressive Kinetic Indoor Racquet Club.

Men’s 2nd seed Mostafa Asal of Egypt beat compatriot Mazen Hesham 11-4 9-11 11-1 11-1 in 51 minutes in the first final of the day, before women’s top seed Nour El Sherbini defeated Hania El Hammamy 11-5 11-9 11-7 in another all-Egyptian final.

Mostafa Asal produced a masterful performance to overcome Mazen Hesham in a thrilling men’s final, made all the more remarkable after both players had navigated arduous five-game semi-finals the previous day.

As the opening game of a fiercely contested final unfolded, it was Moustafa Asal who surged ahead, capitalising on early unforced errors in the rallies to establish a commanding 7-3 lead. The younger of the two Egyptians swiftly secured six game balls and sealed the first game with a powerful backhand winner to the forehand side.

The dynamic shifted in the second game, with Mazen Hesham taking control and claiming three game balls at 10-7, and despite valiant efforts from his opponent an exquisite backhand volley at 10-9 secured him the game, leaving Asal momentarily in disbelief.

Undeterred, Mostafa Asal rebounded in the third game, delivering a lightning-fast performance to take the game 11-1 to bring him within striking distance of the coveted title. The fourth game four saw Mostafa Asal maintaining the momentum, racing to a 5-1 lead despite a request for a new ball from his opponent. Mostafa Asal quickly secured the final six points, clinching victory and securing his first title of the 2023-24 squash season.

The elation of triumph was palpable as Mostafa Asal celebrated his well-deserved win, marking a significant milestone in the young Egyptian’s challenging season.

Nour El Sherbini delivered a dominant performance to claim a decisive 39 minute straight-game victory over Hania El Hammamy in the women’s final.

The top seeds path to the final was marked by an impeccable record, having not dropped a single game throughout the tournament. In contrast, her opponent in the much-anticipated final, the No.3 seed, Hania El Hammamy, faced a challenging journey, requiring four games to overcome Amina Orfi in the quarter-finals and enduring a gruelling 99-minute clash with Nouran Gohar in the semi-finals.

The disparity in minutes spent on the court became increasingly evident as Nour El Sherbini asserted control in the early exchanges of the match, ultimately closing out the first game 11-5 as Hania El Hammamy lob landed out of court.

Although the second game initially appeared to favour Hania El Hammamy, who surged to a 9-4 lead within 10 minutes, Nour El Sherbini showed her trademark resistance to mount a remarkable comeback to orchestrate a seven-point surge that saw her seize the game 11-9 with the final two points decided on stroke calls.

Undeterred, Hania El Hammamy responded with resilience and determination, however, despite her commendable efforts, her opponent’s freshness and strategic acumen proved decisive as Nour El Sherbini secured the game 11-7, to claim her 38th PSA World Tour title.

SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Squash Open 2024
Kinetic Indoor Racquet Club, Florida, USA
Men’s Final:
[2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 11-4, 9-11, 11-1, 11-1 (51m)

Women’s Final:
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 11-5, 11-9, 11-7 (39m)

A thrilling day at the SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Squash Open being staged at the Kinetic Indoor Racquet Club saw four Egyptians Mazen Hesham, Mostafa Asal, Nour ElSherbini and Hania El Hammamy all progress to the eagerly anticipated men’s and women’s finals.

Mostafa Asal staged a remarkable comeback from 2-1 down to defeat Mohamed ElShorbagy 7-11 11-7 10-12 11-1 11-2 in an enthralling 70 minutes and will face Mazen Hesham in the final after the Egyptian upset top seed Diego Elias, beating the home favourite 11-7 8-11 5-11 11-9 11-7 in a hard-fought 77-minute battle on the all-glass show court.

Hania El Hammamy and Nouran Gohar delivered another epic battle, reminiscent of their historic clash at the CIB World Tour Finals seven months ago., with Hania El Hammamy eventually emerging victorious 8-11 11-8 5-11 11-9 15-13 after an intense 99-minute semi-final showdown. The duo, known for their record-breaking encounter, did not disappoint as they split the opening two games. Nouran Gohar seized control in game three, surging to a 5-0 lead and clinching it 11-5 after a video review. Undeterred, Hanai El Hammamy fought back in game four with a new ball, forcing the match into a decider by winning on a stroke.

As Hania El Hammamy took a 5-1 lead in the fifth game, victory seemed within reach. However, Nouran Gohar mounted a comeback, pushing the match to a tiebreak with relentless rallies. The tension escalated after Hania El Hammamy missed multiple match balls, and Nouran Gohar had one of her own, saved by an impressive backhand volley. In a sensational climax, Hania El Hammamy secured victory with a daring forehand from a dive which forced Nouran Gohar to hit the tin.

In the other women’s semi-final, top seed Nour ElSherbini defeated Olivia Weaver 11-8 11-6 11-9 in 38 minutes.

SmartCentres Florida Squash Open 2024, Kinetic Indoor Racquet Club Florida, Boynton Beach, Florida, USA
Men's Semi-Finals:
[4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [1] Diego Elias (PER) 11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 11-9, 11-7 (77m)
[2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) 7-11, 11-7, 10-12, 11-1, 11-2 (70m)

Women’s Semi-Finals:
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt [4] Olivia Weaver (USA) 11-8, 11-6, 11-9 (38m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 8-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 15-13 (99m)

Mohamed ElShorbagy celebrated his 700th match on the PSA World Tour with a quarter-final victory over Gregoire Marche in the quarter-finals of the SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open. The England No.1, marked his 33rd birthday to become the youngest player to reach this milestone since record-keeping began, ensuring a memorable day with an 11-8 11-7 7-11 11-6 victory in 42 minutes.

Reflecting on his accomplishment of reaching 700 matches, ElShorbagy expressed pride and set his sights on future milestones. His semi-final clash will be against Egypt's Mostafa Asal, dubbed the 'Raging Bull,' who displayed dominance with an 11-3 11-1 11-5 win against Sebastien Bonmalais of France.

Diego Elias and Mazen Hesham will face off in the other semi-final after top men’s seed Diego Elias beat Tarek Momen of Egypt 11-6 11-6 11-3 and Mazen Hesham overcame Joel Makin of Wales 11-8 11-5 11-8 in 42 minutes.

In the women's draw, the top four seeds all progressed to the semi-finals. Hania El Hammamy emerged triumphant in a tense quarter-final against Amina Orfi, securing a 12-10 7-11 11-4 11-6 victory in an hour-long battle. Hania El Hammamy will face Nouran Gohar, who convincingly defeated compatriot Farida Mohamed 12-10 12-10 11-3.

Women’s top seed Nour ElSherbini beat Sivasangari Subramaniam of Malaysia 11-8 11-9 11-3 to face Olivia Weaver after the American defeated Chan Sin Yuk of Hong Kong 11-5 11-5 11-6 in 24 minutes.

SmartCentres Florida Squash Open 2024, Kinetic Indoor Racquet Club Florida, Boynton Beach, Florida, USA
Men's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt [5] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-6, 11-6, 11-3 (38m)
[4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [6] Joel Makin (WAL) 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 (42m)
[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA) 11-8, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6 (42m)
[2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [9/16] Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) 11-3, 11-1, 11-5 (38m)

Women’s Quarter-Finals:
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt [5] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) 11-8, 11-9, 11-3 (34m)
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) 11-5, 11-5, 11-6 (24m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [6] Amina Orfi (EGY) 12-10, 7-11, 11-4, 11-6 (64m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [8] Farida Mohamed (EGY) 12-10, 12-10, 11-3 (54m)

Men's 2nd Round:
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt [9/16] Nick Wall (ENG) 11-5, 11-2, 11-8 (39m)
[5] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [9/16] Raphael Kandra (GER) 5-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-4 (45m)
[6] Joel Makin (WAL) bt [9/16] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 14-12, 11-7, 11-7 (45m)
[4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [9/16] Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) 10-12, 11-3, 11-2, 11-2 (41m)
[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [9/16] Nathan Lake (ENG) 11-7, 12-10, 12-10 (31m)
[9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA) bt [8] Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) 9-11, 11-8, 11-4, 7-11, 11-8 (83m)
[9/16] Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt [7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 11-6, 12-10, 11-2 (39m)
[2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [9/16] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) 11-3, 11-5, 11-2 (38m)

Women’s 2nd round:
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt [9/16] Salma Eltayeb (EGY) 11-3, 11-5, 11-4 (20m)
[5] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt [9/16] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 11-6, 11-7, 11-13, 11-8 (42m)
Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) bt [7] Nada Abbas (EGY) 14-16, 11-9, 11-4, 10-12, 11-4 (57m)
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Nicole Bunyan (CAN) 11-2, 11-5, 11-4 (28m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [9/16] Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 11-5, 11-4, 8-11, 11-2 (36m)
[6] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [9/16] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) 11-4, 11-5, 11-2 (24m)
[8] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt [9/16] Tomato Ho (HKG) 11-6, 8-11, 11-2, 12-10 (32m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [9/16] Zeina Mickawy (EGY) 11-7, 11-6, 11-0 (27m)

Men’s 1st Round:
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bye
[9/16] Nick Wall (ENG) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 (28m)
[9/16] Raphael Kandra (GER) bt David Baillargeon (CAN) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (33m)
[5] Tarek Momen (EGY) bye
[6] Joel Makin (WAL) bye
[9/16] Leandro Romiglio (ARG) bt Shahjahan Khan (USA) 13-15, 11-6, 11-4, 11-2 (50m)
[9/16] Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) bt Curtis Malik (ENG) 12-14, 11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 11-1 (55m)
[4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bye
[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bye
[9/16] Nathan Lake (ENG) bt [WC] Jeremías Azaña (ARG) 11-7, 3-11, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8 (68m)
[9/16] Grégoire Marche (FRA) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 11-7, 9-11, 11-2, 6-11, 11-5 (55m)
[8] Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bye
[7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bye
[9/16] Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 13-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-8 (71m)
[9/16] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) 11-5, 7-11, 11-5, 11-13, 12-10 (72m)
[2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bye

Women’s 1st Round:
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bye
[9/16] Salma Eltayeb (EGY) bt Ineta Mackevica (LAT) 11-6, 11-3, 11-5 (18m)
[9/16] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) bt [WC] Danielle Ray (CAN) 11-4, 11-9, 11-9 (26m)
[5] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bye
[7] Nada Abbas (EGY) bye
Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) bt [9/16] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) 11-8, 11-2, 9-11, 11-6 (39m)
Nicole Bunyan (CAN) bt [9/16] Mariam Metwally (EGY) 4-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5, 11-3 (48m)
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) bye
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bye
[9/16] Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) bt Emilia Soini (FIN) 11-9, 7-11, 11-3, 11-5 (37m)
[9/16] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) bt Anna Serme (CZE) 11-7, 11-4, 11-9 (21m)
[6] Amina Orfi (EGY) bye
[8] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bye
[9/16] Tomato Ho (HKG) bt Millie Tomlinson (ENG) 11-4, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5 (42m)
[9/16] Zeina Mickawy (EGY) bt Grace Gear (ENG) 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-2 (37m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bye

Nick Wall of England produced a stunning 28-minute 11-7 11-6 11-5 victory over Ramit Tandon of India on the opening day of the SmartCentres Kinetic Florida Open to set-up a 2nd round clash with top seed & World No.2 Diego Elias of Peru.

World No.29 Nathan Lake, also from England, avoided a major upset in his 1st round match against wild card Jeremias Azaña, coming from 5-2 down in the deciding fifth game to beat the Argentinean 11-7 3-11 11-6 6-11 11-8. The experienced Englishman, needed 86 minutes to overcome his Argentine opponent, who was making the most of home-court advantage and a vocal crowd, and will face compatriot Mohamed ElShorbagy in the 2nd second.

Nathan Lake’s victory was one of five matches to go the distance on an exciting opening day in South Florida, with Nicole Bunyan Gregoire Marche, Abdulla Al-Tamimi and Leonel Cardenas all registering 3-2 wins.

The Professional Squash Association (PSA) have unveiled the men’s and women’s draws for the Kinetic Orange Ball Florida Squash Open 2024, presented by SmartCentres and PenguinPickUp, which will be staged at the Kinetic Indoor Racquet Club in Boyton Beach, Florida from 9th to 14th January. The PSA World Tour Gold event as attracted high quality draws for the men’s and draws which will be headed by World No.2 Diego Elias and World No.1 Nour ElSherbini respectively.

Diego Elias of Peru leads the men’s draw and will be looking for his first win on the of the 2023-24 squash season after reaching three PSA World Tour finals, all ending in defeat against World No.1 Ali Farag. The absence of Ali Farag in Florida will bolster the confidence of Diego Elias in securing his maiden win in familiar surroundings.

The formidable Mostafa Asal, seeded No.2, is also on the hunt for his first PSA World Tour title of the 2023-34 squash season. Nicknamed ‘The Raging Bull,’ Mostafa Asal has tweaked his game under the guidance of former World No.1 James Willstrop, and will faces either Leonel Cardenas or Yahya Elnawasany in his opening match.

Former World Champion Mohamed ElShorbagy is the third seed, and will be pursuing his 50th PSA World Tour title. Despite a ranking slip this season and no final appearances, Mohamed ElShorbagy remains a force to reckon with. His campaign opens against either wildcard Jeremias Azaña or compatriot Nathan Lake.

Egyptian contenders Tarek Momen, Mazen Hesham and Mohamed ElSherbini and Welsh No.1 Joel Makin are all prominent seeds and potential title challengers in the men’s draw.

In the women’s championship, Nour ElSherbini spearheads the draw, aiming for her 15th PSA World Tour title on US soil. With three victories in five tournaments this season, the World Champion eyes a strong start to the year, seeking her fourth win in her fourth PSA World Tour Gold event. Notably, her long-standing rival, World No.2 Nouran Gohar, returns from injury as the No.2 seed, making her comeback since the QTerminals Qatar Squash Classic in September. With Hania El Hammamy on her tail in rankings, Nouran Gohar is set on delivering commanding performances to reclaim her winning streak. Her first match, after a four-month hiatus, pits her against either compatriot Zeina Mickawy or England’s Grace Gear.

Fresh from defending her Hong Kong Squash Open title, Hania El Hammamy enters 2024 brimming with confidence. Despite claiming two PSA World Tour Platinum titles this season, the 23-year-old has yet to seize a PSA World Tour Gold level event, but with her current form, Hania El Hammamy will present a formidable challenge in Florida.

The sole American contender, Olivia Weaver (formerly Fiechter), carries the hopes of the home nation as the No.4 seed. Having reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Squash Open, Olivia Weaver aims to excel on home turf once again. She awaits the winner between Mariam Metwally and Nicole Bunyan after receiving a first-round bye.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Kinetic Orange Ball Florida Squash Open 2024.
Men’s Draw:
[1] Diego Elias (PER) bye
Ramit Tandon (IND) v [9/16] Nick Wall (ENG)
[9/16] Raphael Kandra (GER) v David Baillargeon (CAN)
[5] Tarek Momen (EGY) bye
[6] Joel Makin (WAL) bye
Shahjahan Khan (USA) v [9/16] Leandro Romiglio (ARG)
[9/16] Abdulla Altamimi (QAT) v Curtis Malik (ENG)
[4] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bye
[3] Mohamed Elshorbagy (ENG) bye
[WC] Jeremias Azaña (ARG) v [9/16] Nathan Lake (ENG)
[9/16] Gregoire Marche (FRA) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)
[8] Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bye
[7] Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bye
Karim El Hammamy (EGY) v [9/16] Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA)
[9/16] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) v Yahya Elnawasany (EGY)
[2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bye

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Kinetic Orange Ball Florida Squash Open 2024.
Women’s Draw:
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bye
Ineta Mackevica (LAT) v [9/16] Salma Eltayeb (EGY)
[9/16] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) v [WC] Danielle Letourneau (CAN)
[5] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bye
[7] Nada Abbas (EGY) bye
Chan Sin Yuk (HKG) v [9/16] Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG)
[9/16] Mariam Metwally (EGY) v Nicole Bunyan (CAN)
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) bye
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bye
Emilia Soini (FIN) v [9/16] Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY)
[9/16] Kenzy Ayman (EGY) v Anna Serme (CZE)
[6] Amina Orfi (EGY) bye
[8] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bye
Millie Tomlinson (ENG) v [9/16] Tomato Ho (HKG)
[9/16] Zeina Mickawy (EGY) v Grace Gear (ENG)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bye