Ali Farag & Nouran Gohar win 2024 U.S. Open titles

Ali Farag and Nouran Gohar triumphed in their respective finals of the 2024 Comcast Business U.S. Open Squash Championships staged at the spectacular Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia. World No.1 Ali Farag defeated World Champion Diego Elias 11-4 11-8 11-4 to claim the 42nd PSA World Squash Tour title of his career, whilst women’s World Champion Nouran Gohar overcame World No.1 Nour El Sherbini 11-8 11-9 10-12 11-7 to capture her first title of the season.

A commanding performance from Ali Farag in the men’s final saw the World No.1 defeat reigning World Squash Champion Diego Elias in straight games to claim his first title of the season. The top seeded Egyptian dropped just one game throughout the tournament, culminating in a decisive 11-4 11-8 11-4 victory over Elias in a one-sided final.

The Egyptian’s win came as a sharp contrast to his recent loss to the World No.4 from Peru at the recent Qatar Squash Classic, where Elias had triumphed in straight games. Determined to amend that result, Farag struck an ideal balance between rallying and capitalising on openings at the front of the court, dictating play from the outset.

The opening game saw Farag quickly build a 7-0 lead, pressuring Elias into errors after extended rallies and clinching the first game in just 14 minutes. Elias responded more assertively in the second, attempting to match Farag’s court control and gaining a 7-4 lead. However, Farag countered with a flurry of clean winners, shifting the momentum back in his favour to take the game 11-7.

In the third game, Elias managed a brief 3-1 lead, but Farag’s dominance on the ‘T’ and his ability to stretch Elias across the court soon prevailed. From this early setback, Farag won 10 of the next 11 points, sealing the 2024 U.S. Squash Open title with a remarkable finish to reaffirms his status as the World No.1.

World No.2 Nouran Gohar captured her first title of the 2024-2025 PSA Squash Tour season with a hard-fought victory over World No.1 Nour El Sherbini in a thrilling four-game final which saw the reigning Wormns’ World Champion triumph 11-8 11-9 10-12 11-7 to win her fourth U.S. Squash Open title at Philadelphia’s Arlen Specter US Squash Center.

This latest showdown was the 10th consecutive major final between the two Egyptian rivals, with Gohar finally breaking El Sherbini's hold after three previous final losses this season at the CIB Egyptian Squash Open, Paris Squash, and Qatar Squash Classic.

Gohar started the final impressively, extending her record of winning the first game in each of their encounters this season. Her precise front-court play put El Sherbini under immediate pressure, leading to five key errors that allowed Gohar to secure the opener 11-8 in just nine minutes.

El Sherbini opened the second game with explosive energy, quickly taking a 6-1 lead. However, Gohar’s persistence on the ‘T’ soon paid off, as she took advantage of loose shots and clawed her way back, winning eight of the next nine points. At 10-9, a mistimed backhand volley from El Sherbini handed Gohar the game, giving her a crucial 2-0 advantage.

In the third, Gohar built a 10-7 lead and looked ready to close out the match, but El Sherbini staged an extraordinary comeback, saving three championship balls to eventually take the game 12-10 in a tie-break.

Despite the setback, Gohar remained composed, trading points with El Sherbini early in the fourth game. When three more championship balls arrived at 10-7, Gohar seized her chance, clinching the victory on her first opportunity to secure the U.S. Open title after 51 minutes of intense play.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Comcast Business US Squash Open 2024, Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, USA
Men's Final:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [4] Diego Elias (PER) 11-4, 11-8, 11-4 (39m)

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Comcast Business US Squash Open 2024, Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, USA
Women's Final:
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7 (51m)

The men’s and women’s finals of the 2024 Comcast Business U.S. Open Squash Championships will feature the respective World No.1’s against the reigning World Champions, with Ali Farag facing Diego Elias and Nour El Sherbini up against Nouran Gohar at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia.

In the men’s semi-finals, top seed and two-time U.S. Open Squash Champion Ali Farag produced a tactical masterclass to counter the aggressive play of World No.5 Mazen Hesham to win 11-7 11-9 11-1 38 minutes.

World No.4 Diego Elias, meanwhile, continued his flawless march through the men’s draw, ending the inspired run of unseeded Aly Abou Eleinen, a former University of Pennsylvania player with an 11-7 12-10 11-9 victory.

The women’s semi-finals featured two intense contests as Nour El Sherbini and Nouran Gohar defeated U.S. No.1 Olivia Weaver and World No.3 Hania El Hammamy respectively.

Nour El Sherbini faced a formidable challenge from Olivia Weaver, whose tenacity pushed the World No.1 to a decisive fifth game. Despite several shifts in momentum, Nour El Sherbini emerged victorious with an 11-3 7-11 11-6 2-11 11-4 win to extend her unblemished 10-0 record against the American and advance to her sixth U.S. Squash Open final.

Nouran Gohar, playing through the lingering effects of a recent broken nose, prevailed over long-standing rival Hanai El Hammamy in a spirited 56-minute battle, winning 11-3, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9. After removing the protective strapping on her nose midway through the match, Nouran dug deep to claim her fifth consecutive win over the compatriot,  securing her eighth straight major final appearance against Nour El Sherbini on the PSA World Squash Tour.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Comcast Business US Squash Open 2024, Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, USA
Men's Semi-Finals:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 11-7, 11-9, 11-1 (38m)
[4] Diego Elias (PER) bt Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) 11-7, 12-10, 11-9 (45m)

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Comcast Business US Squash Open 2024, Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, USA
Women's Semi-Finals:
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt [4] Olivia Weaver (USA) 11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 2-11, 11-4 (56m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 11-3, 6-11, 11-7, 11-9 (56m)

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Comcast Business US Squash Open 2024, Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, USA
Men's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 11-7, 9-11, 11-7, 12-10 (59m)
[5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [3] Paul Coll (NZL) 5-11, 11-9, 2-11, 11-5, 11-4 (64m)
[4] Diego Elias (PER) bt [8] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) 11-2, 11-9, 11-5 (35m)
Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt [2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) 11-7, 11-13, 11-9, 11-9 (72m)

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Comcast Business US Squash Open 2024, Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, USA
Women's Quarter-Finals:
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt [8] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) 9-11, 11-1, 11-2, 11-13, 11-8 (60m)
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 (42m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [7] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (34m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [5] Nele Coll (BEL) 11-4, 11-5, 11-5 (32m)

Miguel Rodriguez bowed-out of the 2024 PSA Comcast Business US Squash Open to reigning World Squash Champion Diego Elias of Peru.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Comcast Business US Squash Open 2024, Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, USA
Men's 2nd Round:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Patrick Rooney (ENG) 13-11, 11-6, 11-9 (40m)
Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt Youssef Soliman (EGY) 9-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-8 (56m)
[5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt Joel Makin (WAL) 11-9, 12-10, 13-11 (54m)
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (35m)
[4] Diego Elias (PER) bt Miguel Rodriguez (COL) 11-4, 11-7, 11-3 (37m)
[8] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) 11-8, 15-13, 3-11, 11-6 (54m)
Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt [7] Tarek Momen (EGY) 7-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 (55m)
[2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Fares Dessouky (EGY) 11-4, 14-12, 11-8 (48m)

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Comcast Business US Squash Open 2024, Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, USA
Women's 2nd Round:

[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt Mélissa Alves (FRA) 11-8, 11-4, 11-5 (25m)
[8] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 11-13, 10-12, 11-2, 11-3, 11-7 (64m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 11-6, 9-11, 13-11, 11-8 (44m)
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Katie Malliff (ENG) 11-5, 11-3, 11-2 (25m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt Hana Ramadan (EGY) 11-5, 15-13, 11-4 (34m)
[7] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt Malak Khafagy (EGY) 11-9, 11-5, 11-5 (29m)
[5] Nele Coll (BEL) bt Sana Ibrahim (EGY) 8-11, 11-5, 11-8, 12-10 (63m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Georgia Adderley (SCO) 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 (31m)

UNSQUASHABLE players Miguel Rodriguez and Iker Pajares Bernabeu experienced contrasting fortunes on the second day of the 2024 PSA Comcast Business US Squash Open being staged at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia, USA.

Miguel Rodriguez of Colombia produced a sublime performance to defeat the talented Qatar No.1 Abdulla Al-Tamimi 11-3 11-5 9-11 11-5 in 47 minutes, whilst Iker Pajares Bernabeu, despite another impressive performance, was unable to overcome Egyptian Fares Dessouky who eventually prevailed 6-11 11-1 5-11 11-8 11-3 in a 70-minute topsy-turvy, five-game contest.

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Comcast Business US Squash Open 2024, Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, USA
Men's 1st Round:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt Baptiste Masotti (FRA) 12-10, 11-5, 11-6 (33m)
Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt [WC] Spencer Lovejoy (USA) 12-10, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6 (48m)
Youssef Soliman (EGY) bt Grégoire Marche (FRA) 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-5 (60m)
Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt [6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 8-11, 10-12, 11-9, 12-10, 12-10 (89m)
[5] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [WC] Salim Khan (USA) 11-2, 11-6, 11-7 (23m)
Joel Makin (WAL) bt Nathan Lake (ENG) 11-6, 11-5, 11-6 (42m)
Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bt Ramit Tandon (IND) 4-11, 11-7, 14-12, 11-9 (52m)
[3] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 11-3, 11-7, 11-3 (28m)
[4] Diego Elias (PER) bt Auguste Dussourd (FRA) 11-3, 11-4, 11-2 (31m)
Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt Abdulla Al-Tamimi (QAT) 11-3, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5 (47m)
Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA) bt Raphael Kandra (GER) 12-10, 11-9, 11-6 (44m)
[8] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt Leandro Romiglio (ARG) 11-7, 12-10, 11-8 (36m)
[7] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt Dimitri Steinmann (SUI) 8-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-9 (54m)
Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt Timothy Brownell (USA) 10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 (59m)
Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) 6-11, 11-1, 5-11, 11-8, 11-3 (70m)
[2] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt Eain Yow Ng (MAS) 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (49m)

Professional Squash Association (PSA) Comcast Business US Squash Open 2024, Arlen Specter US Squash Center, Philadelphia, USA
Women's 1st Round:
[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 13-11, 11-6, 11-4 (34m)
Mélissa Alves (FRA) bt Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-4, 12-10 (58m)
Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt Rachel Arnold (MAS) 12-10, 11-8, 11-4 (29m)
[8] Rowan Elaraby (EGY) bt Amina Orfi (EGY) 12-10, 11-6, 11-3 (38m)
Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) bt [6] Georgina Kennedy (ENG) 11-7, 4-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-5 (61m)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Tomato Ho (HKG) 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 12-14, 11-7 (66m)
Katie Malliff (ENG) bt Lucy Turmel (ENG) 11-5, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5 (46m)
[4] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 (21m)
[3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt Menna Hamed (EGY) 11-6, 11-8, 11-2 (28m)
Hana Ramadan (EGY) bt Hollie Naughton (CAN) 11-8, 5-11, 13-11, 11-9 (39m)
Malak Khafagy (EGY) bt Emily Whitlock (WAL) 11-7, 12-10, 11-7 (37m)
[7] Tinne Gilis (BEL) bt [WC] Marina Stefanoni (USA) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (31m)
[5] Nele Coll (BEL) bt Amanda Sobhy (USA) 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 (35m)
Sana Ibrahim (EGY) bt Salma Eltayeb (EGY) 13-11, 11-4, 11-5 (35m)
Georgia Adderley (SCO) bt [WC] Lucie Stefanoni (USA) 11-7, 7-11, 11-6, 11-2 (30m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Tesni Murphy (WAL) 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (44m)

UNSQUASHABLE players Miguel Rodriguez and Iker Pajares Bernabeu will both feature in the 2024 PSA Comcast Business US Squash Open to be staged at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia, USA from 19th to 26th September.