(24.08.2016) The second day of the men’s and women’s first round of Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open 2016 continued today at Hong Kong Squash Centre. Local favourite, Max Lee and Ho Tze Lok will join Yip Tsz Fung and Annie Au in the round two and it would be the first time for Hong Kong to have two home grown male players enter the main draw round two.
Following after Yip Tsz Fung, the Hong Kong men’s no.1 and world no.18, Max Lee took over Joe Lee from England to reach the round two for his first time in his career. Max dominated the game and produced some great accurate shots today which Joe Lee could not take much advantage on him, to close in a comfortable straight game at 11-6, 11-4, 11-7. “I am very pleased to get into my first second round in Hong Kong, I hard trained very hard over the summer so it is great to win my first match in the new season. I wouldn’t put much pressure on the next match tomorrow, just hope to do my best of it.” Max said.
Ramy Ashour, the former No.1 and champion of 2013 came back strong to ease through to the second round with a win over Saurav Ghosal of India at a close straight 11-7, 11-6 and 12-10. Ashour will meet his compatriot Marwan Elshorbagy at 3pm tomorrow.
For the women’s event, the tournament wildcard Ho Tze Lok made the huge upset today as she fighting back from 2 games down to stun the world No.15 Jenny Duncalf of England to reach the round two of the first time in her career. Being down from 1-11 and 4-11, Ho adjusted her game plan to manage to take the following three games at 11-7, 18-16 and 11-7. “As meeting the world class player like Jenny, I just aimed at taking as much as points I could at first so I am very happy and surprised to overcome in five. As I didn’t expect I could make it through to the round two, I would just be focus on my game tomorrow.” Ho commented after match.
The seeded two Laura Massaro and Malaysia star Nicol David, the tenth time champion both survived from a five-set thriller to the top 16. Playing against another young yet up-coming Egyptian player, Hania El Hammamy, though Massaro led the first at 11-9, the 15 years old girl had no fear to keep attacking to take the second and fourth to level the game at 2-2, the world No.2 was back in form to end the hour match at 11-3. Laura Massaro will face her fellow Emily Whitlock in the second round.
At the same time, the defending champion, Nicol David continued her winning streak over the 11 years by halting the Walsh Tesni Evans in an intensive five games to meet Joelle King tomorrow at 6pm.
The round two matches will kick off tomorrow at 12 noon at Hong Kong Squash Centre. All the top four seeded player except for the early exit of Miguel Angel Rodriguez, will be on court to decide the last eight quarter finalists.
In addition to Nicol David and Laura Massaro, the seed number 1 Nour El Sherbini will be meeting the local star Annie Au at 1pm. For the men’s event, the first seed Mohamed Elshoragy and second seed Gregory Gaultier will meet Cameron Pilley and Fare Dessouky at 2pm and 8pm respectively.
Please click here for the updated results and schedule!
