Former Champion ElShorbagy Fends Off James To Reach Optasia Quarters

World No.8 Mohamed ElShorbagy demonstrated his trademark resilience as he battled past fellow Englishman Declan James in a captivating four-game duel to book his spot in the quarter-finals of the Optasia Championships, the PSA Squash Tour Gold event in London.

In a match which left the packed house at the Wimbledon Club on the edge of their seats from the first to last point, it was 2017 champion ElShorbagy who managed to clinch the win by an 11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 11-8 scoreline.

Narrow margins separated the two players throughout the 68-minute match, especially in a crucial 19-minute third game which was brimming with quality.

However, it was former world No.1 ElShorbagy who managed to rally from 9-7 down to move within a game of victory, and subsequently take a tense fourth game to advance to the last eight of the Gold event.

"It feels like home to be playing here," ElShorbagy said after the match. "I'm really happy to get through my first round.

"I think Declan's journey is very inspirational; he had his Achilles injury a year and a half ago, and he's coming back to his best level, if not better.

"He was 9-7 up in the third game, and it was really tough at that time. It would have been really tough mentally if he had gone 2/1 up on that court. It was really hard to get any kind of momentum, to be honest."

ElShorbagy will face France's Gregoire Marche for the third time in as many events tomorrow after the Frenchman defeated former British Open Champion Miguel Rodriguez in an entertaining four-game bout.

Meanwhile, in the women's draw, world No.17 Sana Ibrahim took a thrilling five-game clash against home favourite Sarah-Jane Perry, rallying from 7-4 down in the decider to set up a date with British National Champion Georgina Kennedy in the next round. No.2 seed Kennedy defeated Egypt's Nour Aboulmakarim in straight games.