PSA Day 2 Round Up – 8 June 2022
NECKER MAURITIUS OPEN, STORIES OF DAY 2...
The favorites dominated the round of 16 of the Necker Mauritius Open 2022 Presented by Beachcomber Resort & Hotels (Men’s Gold, $110,000) and the RMClub Women’s 2022 Presented by Expression Networks (Women’s Challenger 30, $30,000): in the 16 matches that were played, only Omar Mosaad pulled an upset against Marwan ElShorbagy. Grégory Gaultier bid farewell to the World Tour, while Coline Aumard extended her PSA career and will feature in the quarterfinals. Here is a look at what happened on Wednesday.
THE FRENCH GENERAL SAYS FAREWELL
Grégory Gaultier had announced his retirement in October 2021, but the former world number 1 and world champion agreed to make a final appearance in a tournament organized by his close friend, promoter Rémy Mabillon. The Frenchman, who produced some good squash to defeat George Parker in the first round, carried the momentum against World No.8 Mazen Hesham, taking the lead after a 17-minute first game – 14-12 after being 10-6 up. Unfortunately this would be costly and the Egyptian was on top in the next two games. With the support of a full crowd at the RM Club Mauritius, Gaultier threw everything he had left in the tank, but it wasn’t enough and he bowed in 4 games.” Mazen was playing some good squash, whereas I haven’t played for quite a while and I couldn’t see the ball, my movement was way too off.” the Frenchman admitted. “I’m of course disappointed to have been unable to perform a bit better, but it’s been a pleasure to be on this beautiful court for my last match – on the PSA Tour anyway as I’ll try to keep playing for fun, because I love the sport way too much.”
Grégory Gaultier (foreground) played his last PSA match on the RM Club Mauritius glass court on Wednesday
AN ALL-ENGLISH AFFAIR …
The clashes between former World No.1s James Willstrop and Mohamed ElShorbagy are among the classics of modern squash, and it was episode number 25 last night at RM Club Mauritius. But from now on, they will be all-English affairs, since the Alexandrian-born announced earlier this week that he successfully applied for British citizenship and switched his allegiance to his adopted home country. As a matter of fact, he will be the top seed at the British Nationals, which start on Monday in Manchester. In the meantime, ElShorbagy kicked off his campaign his good fashion in the Necker Mauritius Open, goingfrom strength to strength as the match went on against the “Marksman” to win 11-8, 11-6, 11-5. “t’s amazing to be here for my first time, I can bet that this isn’t going to be my last one. I think it was quite fitting to play James in my first match for England, as he’s one of the country’s greats and it’s an honour to be on court with him,” said the World No.3 after the match.
:Mohamed ElShorbagy (in white) kicked off his campaign in Mauritius beating his new fellow countryman James Willstrop, for his match as an English representative
TOP SEEDS PREVAIL
Today in the quarterfinals, Mohamed ElShorbagy will face World No.13 Grégoire Marche, one of the 7 other seeded players who came through on Wednesday. Apart from Omar Mosaad’s win over Marwan ElShorbagy (see below), there were no upsets in the last 16, and the stars of the show were not troubled for their first match in the tournament. World No.2 Paul Coll contained young Swiss player Dimitri Steinmann in the last match of the evening, while World No.5 Diego Elias was impressive to overcome an in-form player, World No.16 Nicolas Mueller. World No.6 Tarek Momen, who came to Mauritius with his wife Raneem El Welily – former world number 1 – and their son Shahir, dispatched Frenchman Lucas Serme in three games. Things will certainly heat up on Thursday, and we’ll have a keen eye on the clash between Diego Elias and Mazen Hesham. In their last encounter a few weeks ago, the Peruvian Puma won 11-9 in the fifth game after saving several match balls…
MOSAAD DOWNS ELSHORBAGY AND SENDS HESHAM TO THE WORLD TOUR FINALS
The day had started with an all Egyptian affair at the Necker Mauritius Open 2022 Presented by Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels, and it was also a clash between two former World No.3s. After going 1-love down, Omar Mosaad pulled what was going to be the only upset of the day against Marwan ElShorbagy, and the Hammer of Thor will feature in the quarterfinals of a Gold/Platinum event for the first time in more than 3 years. He will face another compatriot, Tarek Momen. Mosaad’s win over ElShorbagy means that the latter can no longer grab the 8th spot in the World Tour Finals standings, and therefore Mazen Hesham will participate in the Masters of squash for the first time in his career at the end of June – a well-deserved reward for the Black Falcon after a great season.
Omar Mosaad pulled the sole upset of the day on Wednesday against Marwan ElShorbagy
FRENCH LADIES SHINE IN MAURITIUS
There were no upsets in the women’s tournament – the RMClub Women’s Open, with a $30,000 prize money – and the top 8 seeds went safely through. While the favorites eased their way in, for example World No.15 Tinne Gilis, it was a full house for the French contingent on Wednesday at the RM Club Mauritius, and France will have a representative in all of the four quarterfinals! It started with Marie Stéphan’s four-game win over Singapore’s Au Yeong Wai Yhann, who made a good account of herself this week, then Enora Villard’s prevailed also in 4 against young Polish girl Karina Tyma. In the last match of the day, number 2 seed Mélissa Alves did well to avoid a potential banana skin against talented Englishwoman Lucy Beecroft, the player from French Guiana closing the third game in the tie-break. Berfore that, Coline Aumard had extended her PSA career thanks to her victory against another English player – Millie Tomlinson – in three games including two tie-breaks. “I’m very happy, because I really wanted to play on the glass court,” said the Frenchwoman, who is playing her last tournament on the tour before joining the RM Club Mauritius as the head of the squash academy. “Millie and I train together very often, but our matches are usually tense. It’s also very hot on court, the ball bounces a lot and that’s why there were a few contacts. I haven’t trained much recently, I’m here without any pressure, and I’m super happy to play against Tinne, even if we are friends I’m sure she will play 110 per cent and so will I (she laughs).” Two other French players will be the underdog in their match today: World No.57 Marie Stéphan, against powerful Egyptian, World No.18 Farida Mohamed and World No.42 Enora Villard against lefty Lisa Aitken – World No.33 – whom she lost to in straight games a few days ago in El Gouna. World No.29 Mélissa Alves will close the afternoon session against Julianne Courtice (World No.53, but former member of the top 30), before the men’s take the scene from 5:30 pm onwards.
It was a full house for the 4 French players featuring in the last 16 of the RM Club Women’s Open on Wednesday
Results – Second round, Wednesday the 8th of June
Necker Mauritius Open 2022 Presented by Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels (Gold, $110,000)
[9/16] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY): 3-1 (6-11, 11-7, 11-5, 12-10)
[4] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [9/16] Lucas Serme (FRA): 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-7)
[3] Diego Elias (PER) bt [9/16] Nicolas Mueller (SUI): 3-0 (11-6, 11-7, 11-9)
[8] Baptiste Masotti (FRA) bt [9/16] Sébastien Bonmalais (FRA): 3-0 (11-3, 11-9, 11-9)
[6] Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [WC] Grégory Gaultier (FRA): 3-1 (12-14, 11-2, 11-3, 11-6)
[7] Gregoire Marche (FRA) bt [9/16] Karim El Hammamy (EGY): 3-0 (11-3, 11-9, 11-4)
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt [9/16] James Willstrop (ENG): 3-0 (11-8, 11-6, 11-5)
[1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt [9/16] Dimitri Steinmann (SUI): 3-0 (11-8, 11-7, 11-4)
RMClub Women’s Open 2022 Presented by Expression Networks LLC (Challenger 30, $30,000)
[7] Marie Stéphan (FRA) bt Au Yeong Wai Yhann (SIN): 3-1 (11-9, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7)
[6] Enora Villard (FRA) bt [9/16] Karina Tyma (POL): 3-1 (11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 11-5)
[3] Farida Mohamed (EGY) bt [9/16] Georgia Adderley (SCO): 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-7)
[8] Julianne Courtice (ENG) bt [9/16] Saskia Beinhard (GER): 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-7)
[4] Lisa Aitken (SCO) – [9/16] Nadeen Kotb (EGY): 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-9)
[1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) – [9/16] Alicia Mead (ENG): 3-0 (11-3, 11-8, 11-6)
[5] Coline Aumard (FRA) – [9/16] Millie Tomlinson (ENG): 3-0 (11-2, 12-10, 12-10)
[2] Mélissa Alves (FRA) – [9/16] Lucy Beecroft (ENG): 3-0 (11-8, 11-8, 12-10)
Schedule – quarterfinals, Thursday the 9th of June (local time, GMT+4)
Necker Mauritius Open 2022 Presented by Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels (Gold, $110,000)
5:30pm: [3] Diego Elias (PER) – [6] Mazen Hesham (EGY)
6:30pm: [2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) – [7] Gregoire Marche (FRA)
7:30pm: [1] Paul Coll (NZL) – [8] Baptiste Masotti (FRA)
8:30pm: [4] Tarek Momen (EGY) – [9/16] Omar Mosaad (EGY)
RMClub Women’s Open 2022 Presented by Expression Networks LLC (Challenger 30, $30,000)
12pm: [3] Farida Mohamed (EGY) – [7] Marie Stéphan (FRA)
1pm: [6] Enora Villard (FRA) – [4] Lisa Aitken (SCO)
2pm: [1] Tinne Gilis (BEL) – [5] Coline Aumard (FRA)
