Former Champions Elias & El Sherbini Advance On ToC Day Two
25 Jan 2025

Past champions Diego Elias and Nour El Sherbini kickstarted their quests for silverware at the 2025 JP Morgan Tournament of Champions in successful style, defeating Mohamad Zakaria and Hollie Naughton, respectively, on day two of the PSA Squash Tour Platinum event in New York City.
The matchup between Elias and Zakaria pitted the reigning world champion against the current world junior champion in the spectacular Grand Central Terminal, with 17-year-old Zakaria targeting a first top 10 win of his young career.
Elias cut a frustrated figure throughout an intense 21-minute opening game, with Zakaria taking a surprise lead after the No.3 seed was penalised with a conduct stroke for dissent at 12-11 down.
However, after returning to court, Elias began to find his range and take control of the middle of the court, managing to navigate his way through the subsequent three games by 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 scorelines.
"He is such a good player," Elias said after the match. "He's only 17, so he's going to keep getting better. He's a great player and I know he's going to be at the top soon.
"It's the first match of the year and I haven't played on the PSA Tour for a month and a half, so there were a lot of nerves, and even more when you're playing a 17-year-old."
A potential semi-final meeting with world No.2 Mostafa Asal remains on the cards for Elias after the Egyptian claimed an impressive straight games win over compatriot Aly Abou Eleinen, overturning his defeat to the 25-year-old earlier this season at the US Open.
Elsewhere, defending champion and No.2 seed Nour El Sherbini began her quest for a sixth Tournament of Champions title with a crushing 11-5, 11-2, 11-4 victory over Canada's Hollie Naughton.