The matches in the second round of El-Gouna International Squash Open’s tournament ended on Tuesday, and five Egyptian players advanced into the quarter-finals.
In the opening match, Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez won over Hong Kong’s Leo Au, with scores of 11-6, 11-6, 11-7, and the final result of 3-0. Thanks to his win, Rodriguez qualified for the tournament’s quarter-finals.
Many believe the matches of the first round are easy to win for professional players. However, Rodriguez, ranked 6th internationally, told Daily News Egypt that in order to secure his position and advance in the tournament “no match is easy”. He added that this tournament includes very qualified squash players.
In the second match, German Simon Rosner defeated Mexican Cesar Salazar, where the scores were 11-6, 6-11, 11-2, 11-7, and the final score was 3-1. This pushed also Rosner to the quarter-finals.
Salazar, despite exiting the tournament, preformed passionately and added spirit to the match.
The third match was between, Egyptian players Fares Dessouki and Karim Abdel Gawad, where the victory was for Dessouki, who qualified for the quarter-finals with scores of 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 and a final result of 3-0.
Two Egyptians played against each other in the fourth match, where Ali Farag won over his compatriot Tarek Momen. The result was 3-0 and Farag qualified for the quarter-finals.
Egypt’s Omar Mosaad won over France’s Mathieu Castagnet, with scores of 15-13, 11-4, 11-4, and the final result of 3-0. After winning the fifth match, Mosaad qualified for the quarter-finals.
Egyptian Mohamed El-Shorbagy, ranked number 1 internationally, qualified for the quarter-finals, after winning the sixth match against England’s Chris Simpson, with scores of 11-8, 11-8, 12-10, and the final result of 3-0.
The seventh match was also between two Egyptians. Marwan El-Shorbay qualified for the quarter-finals after defeating his compatriot Omar Abdel Meguid. The scores were 11-6, 11-7, 11-5, and the final result was 3-0.
In the eighth and second round’s last match, France’s Gregory Gaultier, ranked 2nd internationally, played against South Africa’s Stephen Coppinger. Gaultier qualified for the quarter-finals, after winning with scores of 11-2, 11-8, 11-6, and the final score of 3-0.
Quarter-final matches will take place Wednesday.
