Day Two once again featured 32 matches – from the bottom half of the draws – with four courts in action including the all-Glass court in the spectacular setting of Cathedral Hall.
You can watch the matches live via SQUASHTV, Facebook and YouTube (side courts only), follow the results via live scoring, keep up to date with our social feeds, and we’ll have updates and player reaction from the glass court here on this page, with an end-of-day roundup at the end.
11.30 [3] Camille Serme (Fra) 3-0 Lee Ka Yi (Hkg) 11-7, 11-1, 11-4 (23m)
12.15 [6] Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy) 3-0 Sebastien Bonmalais (Fra) 13-11, 11-7, 17-15 (51m)
13.30 [12] Olivia Clyne (Usa) 3-0 Cindy Merlo (Sui) 11-3, 11-6, 11-5 (21m)
14.15 [7] Fares Dessouky (Egy) 3-1 Greg Lobban (Sco) 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3 (43m)
17.00 [2] Nouran Gohar (Egy) 3-0 Lucy Beecroft (Eng) 11-6, 11-1, 11-5 (21m)
17.45 [4] Paul Coll (Nzl) 3-0 Tayyab Aslam (Pak) 11-2, 11-5, 11-2 (28m)
19.00 [18] Sabrina Sobhy (Usa) 3-0 Ali Loke (Wal) 11-5, 11-3, 11-2 (20m)
19.45 [2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (Egy) 3-0 Yip Tsz Fung (Hkg) 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (25m)
Serme Advances To Second Round
Four times a semi-finalist at the World Championships, Frenchwoman Camille Serme got her 2020-2021 campaign off to the perfect start, defeating Hong Kong’s Lee Ka Yi in straight games.
The first match on the glass court on day two saw Serme take on Yi for the first time in their careers, and it was the World No.4 who came out the victor in just over 20 minutes.
“You know, it’s the morning, the first match of the tournament. You have to get the legs going so I am just happy with the performance,” she admitted.
“I was quite happy with my accuracy today and I will try to move better and better each day, and also be more aware of where my opponent is because she caught me a few times today.
“This year is different because although it is the World Championships, we can’t have our staff with us. It is special conditions so I will try to take it as it comes.”
Gawad Comes Through Exciting Contest
2016 World Champion Karim Abdel Gawad is through to the second round of this season’s edition of the tournament after beating Frenchman Sebastien Bonmalais in a wonderful contest in Chicago.
Bonmalais was playing on the biggest stage for the first time in his career, and he showed that could compete with the best, pushing the ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’ all the way.
“It’s the first time we have played each other and I think he is a very tough opponent. He just needs that bit more experience, and with that, he will break the top 20 very soon. He is very clever on court and he has very good tactics. He moves very well so it won’t be too long until he gets into the top 20,” Gawad said.
“To have a first round match like this gives you more confidence for the rest of the tournament and makes you ready for the next round. With this, I am happy with the way I dealt with the match. It is a good start after a long time without playing. It is nice to be back on court, and to try and to get back to the form I used to have. It is a good start for me.
“I am getting older, of course, that is why I don’t want to play 3-2 matches, which used to be 95% of my matches! With the recovery, I have to be smart. You have to change the way you recover, when I was 23, 24, I didn’t focus as much on the recovery. It is now the most important part of the game, it is very important.”
Result : [6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Sebastien Bonmalais (FRA) 3-0: 13-11, 11-7, 17-15 (51m)
Clyne Advances To Last 32 On Home Soil
US No.2 Olivia Clyne continued her great form on this court in Chicago, with a comfortable victory over Swiss No.1 Cindy Merlo to reach the second round of the PSA World Championships.
The World No.13, who reached the quarter-finals of the Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family at this venue last February, came through in straight games, needing jut 21 minutes to book her spot in the last 32.
“Every good result I have ever had is on this court. To say I am happy to be back here is the understatement of the century! I am definitely happy to be playing on home soil, I am ecstatic.
“We are just ready, like everyone in this world, we are ready for normal, a new normal. We have just built our national centre down in Philly, there is a lot of squash happening in the States, and we are happy to be back playing in front of this crowd.
“We are indoors a lot of the time, and spending hours by ourselves, I am a talker and spending hours talking to yourself, probably not normal, probably not healthy! It is about management, you have to figure out what works for you. My biggest thing is wanting to wipe my hands on the wall as it is something I have done since I was a kid. You just find a new normal but everyone is in the same position, you find what works, we get to play, we get to travel and that’s better than a lot of people can say right now.
“You feel like you have to make the most of this. I am really happy that I get to play again tomorrow!”
Dessouky Battles Back To Defeat Lobban
World No.7 Fares Dessouky started slowly in his first round clash at this year’s World Championships, but came through to win 3-1 against Scotland’s Greg Lobban.
The Egyptian missed the CIB PSA World Tour Finals through injury, and in his first appearance back on Tour, he was a bit sluggish from the get-go. However, once the rustiness had worn off, he found his game, and comfortably secured his place in the last 32.
“I was injured, as you know, so I haven’t trained at all. I am only on court with spirit and with what I have had over the last few months, and I am happy it worked.
“The first game, I was not confident with my shots and I was struggling to read his game. My eyes are a bit slow! I am happy that I adapted very quickly, and I started playing very well from the second, and applying the pressure, so I am happy with that.
“I am very happy to be able to get on a flight to go somewhere, and it is here in the US. It is a lovely tournament, I like the city and it is great to be here again.”
Result : [7] Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Greg Lobban (SCO) 3-0: 6-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-3 (43m)
Gohar Takes Dominant Win Over Beecroft
World No.2 Nouran Gohar continued her fine form after winning the CIB PSA World Tour Finals, to notch a dominant win over Lucy Beecroft in the opening round of the PSA World Championships 2020-2021.
‘The Terminator’ allowed the young Englishwoman to score just twelve points across the entire match, cruising to victory in just 21 minutes.
“I really enjoyed my time on court. I mean, I have played my best matches here actually. I remember Laura Massaro’s match in the quarters, and great battles with Raneem [El Welily]! It is always a great place to play and to have familiar faces here as well!
“It was the last place we played before COVID, we have played in Egypt, but the first time outside of Egypt and there is nothing better than this to come back to!
“It has been really tough. Not being able to play, not finding momentum, even when we were back. Thanks to CIB, the sponsored all the Egyptian events, and without them, we would not have played for 16 months now so I am very happy to be able to play again.
“Who doesn’t want to win this one?! For me, it is about taking it match by match, I am really enjoying it right now and that is the main thing. My best is the semis so hopefully I can go better!”
Result : [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) beats Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-1, 11-5 (21m)
Coll Starts World Champs Campaign With Win
New Zealand’s Paul Coll is into the second round of the PSA World Championships 2020-2021 after a win over Pakistani No.1 Tayyab Aslam.
The Kiwi finished runner-up in the previous edition of the World Championships in Qatar in November 2019, and he will be looking to go one better this time round.
“I love this venue, the crowd is very close to the court so it’s a great atmosphere and I love the city of Chicago! It’s nice to be here in the summertime and there’s good vibes!
“Last time I was here, there was one solitary Kiwi sat in the back row and he was just smashing it for me, it was amazing!
“To be honest, my last two or three months has been trying to peak for this. My training has been tapered for this so the last few tournaments I have been playing well and getting some good results, but everything was tailored for this event. Coming in here, feeling really good, confident and excited for the week.
“For me, it is perfect. PSA have done an amazing job in gives us enough leeway to get outside. I am here to win the tournament so I don’t really want to be doing too much else. We can get outside and get food. So a bit of fresh air, get out on the streets, go and train, so I am happy.”
Result : [4] Paul Coll (NZL) bt Tayyab Aslam (PAK) 3-0: 11-2, 11-5, 11-2 (28m)
Sabrina Sobhy Books Second Round Berth
After her sister did the same yesterday, Sabrina Sobhy booked her place in the second round of the World Championships after a straight-games win over Welshwoman Ali Loke.
The pair had never played on Tour before, and Sobhy came out firing in typical style. The pace of her game did not wavered, and she was able to come through after just 20 minutes on court at the University Club of Chicago.
“These days, because of the COVID restrictions, feel like five days in one, so once you get out here, it’s so exciting. Especially when it’s 7pm and you have the whole day to just count down until your match.
“We have a practice court in the morning, so I like to come early to get out of the room and roll. I actually have a part-time job which I do remotely as well. I have been walking around everywhere, as well, anything to bide the time.
“This has always been one of my favourite venues, of course it’s so beautiful and breathtaking. The general vibe is to just have fun and make the most of being on court because as we learned from this year, we don’t really know when the next time we will be on court with opponents might be.
“I think, just stick to trying to have fun on the court. I like to just take it one step at a time. The first match is always the most nerve-racking and stressful so I don’t think about anything else. I don’t have a return ticket, I am here to play this match.”
Result : [18] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) beats Ali Loke (WAL) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-2 (20m)
