Iker Pajares Bernabeu pushes Mohamed ElShorbagy at Grasshopper Cup 2023 in Zürich

October 17 2023

Iker Pajares Bernabeu pushed top seed Mohamed ElShorbagy all the way in the 2nd round of the Grasshopper Cup before eventually being denied 11-7 8-11 11-6 in 42 minutes on the spectacular all-glass show court at Halle 622 in Zurich, Switzerland.

The top seed, Mohamed ElShorbagy, took command of the pace right from the opening exchanges with Pajares showing remarkable resilience and agility, skilfully returning his opponent’s powerful shots and extending the rallies through his athletic prowess. However, the English No.1 was not to be denied in the 1st game which he won 11-7.

The second game unfolded with the 3-time Spanish Champion surging to a 5-3 lead, displaying a newfound clinical edge to his game and minimising errors and exuding confidence in his finishing. The Spaniard even held five match balls against the World No.4, a testament to his tenacity. Yet, in a gripping turn of events, ElShorbagy mounted a remarkable late-game resurgence with Pajares forced to summon a delightful drop shot to ultimately seize the game, thereby levelling the match.

As the battle raged on in the third game, the two players locked horns at 6-6, demonstrating their unwavering determination. ElShorbagy dug deep to execute an impeccable and flawless game plan and in a breathtaking sequence reeled off five consecutive points to secure a well-earned quarter-final berth, setting the stage for a quarter-final clash Karim Abdel Gawad.

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The 2023 Grasshopper Cup starts today in Zürich, Switzerland and will feature UNSQUASHABLE players Iker Pajares Bernabeu, Nick Wall, George Parker, Rory Stewart, Lucas Serme and Yannick Wilhelmi.

All 1st round matches will be staged at the Squash Arena Uster before actions moves to Halle 622 in the heart of Zürich.

Lucas Serme has gained entry into the prestigious Professional Squash Association (PSA) PSA World Tour event and will face fellow UNSQUASHABLE player Iker Pajares Bernabeu.

Nick Wall will play Scottish No.1 Greg Lobban in his 1st round match with George Parker playing Switzerland’s Dimitri Steinmann and Rory Stewart up against Auguste Dussourd of France. Yannick Wilhelmi has been awarded the wildcard for the championships and will play German No.1 Raphael Kandra.

For latest news & full event highlights, visit: www.internationalsquashmagazine.com

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Next stop for Iker Pajares Bernabeu, Nick Wall, George Parker, Rory Stewart, Lucas Serme & Yannick Wilhelmi on the PSA World Tour ➡️ Grasshopper Cup, Zürich … 17th to 22nd October.

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