1:49 pm
10 Oct 2024

ElSherbini Survives Chan Scare In Hong Kong

29 Nov 2023

World No.1 and seven-time World Champion Nour El Sherbini avoided a potential upset against local hero Chan Sin Yuk, the world No.57, by surviving a five-game battle to move through to the women's quarter-finals of the TTI Milwaukee Hong Kong Open.

Top seed El Sherbini was two games up and had two match balls in the third before Chan surged back to reduce the deficit to level the match.

The tournament's top seed extinguished hopes of home favourite Chan producing the biggest upset of the tournament so far as El Sherbini clinched the fifth 11-7.

"It's hard right now, I don't really know what was happening, but it was my first time playing her and she beat some good players here in Hong Kong," El Sherbini said.

"I was in control in the first two games but it was a very tight last three games. She came back and everything was working for her. It was a new player for me so I didn't quite know what to expect.

"She was going for every shot and having fun and that's why it was working for her. I lost a little bit of confidence and went off my game plan, but I'm just glad I won in the end."

In the men's draw, defending champion Mostafa Asal came from one game down to see off his fellow Egyptian Youssef Soliman.

After Soliman clinched the first 13-11, Asal then claimed the following three games 11-6, 11-2, 11-5 to progress to the last eight.