The first round of the Manchester Open concluded with eight matches in the evening session at the National Squash Centre.
Day two of the Manchester Open gets underway from 12:00 (GMT+1) on Thursday May 18, with action on Court G1 available to watch on SQUASHTV, while Court G2 will be live on the Manchester Open Squash website. Live scores are available on the PSA World Tour website here.
You can buy tickets for the Manchester Open here.
Watanabe and Adel Progress In Straight Games
In the opening matches of the evening session, Satomi Watanabe and Yathreb Adel notched comprehensive 3-0 wins against Hana Moataz and wildcard Saran Nghiem, respectively.
On court two, Watanabe defeated Moataz in half an hour as Japan’s No.1 was in fine form to secure her place in the second round.
Watanabe took the first two games 11-6 and 11-9 as Moataz fought back in a crucial third game for the Egyptian when she was 9-7 up, but some costly errors opened the door for Watanabe to level the game before she clinched match ball at the first attempt.
Afterwards, Watanabe said: “I played Hana [Moataz] in Florida recently and it was 3-2, we’ve played three time together and they’ve all been five games and today was again not easy although it was only three games.
“I was telling myself to be really patient, she rarely makes mistakes and can hit some really good shots and there’s no way you win points easily. I was trying to make sure that I gave no easy points away as well.”
Adel also secured her second round spot with a straight games victory, seeing off tournament wildcard Nghiem.
The Egyptian wrapped up the match in 25 minutes against the 19-year-old on her home court in her first appearance on the PSA World Tour.
Results
Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt Hana Moataz (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 (30m)
Yathreb Adel (EGY) bt [WC] Saran Nghiem (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (25m)
Mosaad Pulls Through Stern Test, While Eleinen Prevails in Four
Former World No.3 Omar Mosaad came through a testing battle against tournament wildcard Finnlay Withington to reach the second round.
Mosaad’s experience looked to be too strong for Withington, as the 35-year-old opened up a two-game advantage.
But with the home crowd behind him, Withington responded magnificently in the third – taking the game to Mosaad as the Englishman pulled a game back.
Withington continued to impress in the fourth as the 19-year-old made an excellent account of himself against the Egyptian. However Mosaad’s experience and guile came to the fore as he was victorious in the fourth to book a place in the second round.
“Of course experience makes a big difference if you play younger players,” Mosaad said.
“I try to play my best in every match, but I’m happy to be here and I’m happy to be in front of this amazing crowd and at this venue.
‘Before this match I tried to focus 100% to make it in three, but he (Finnlay Withington) put me in trouble, especially in the third and fourth games. So I’m really happy to win.
“I’m moving well, but I’m taking it match by match, point by point. I’m really enjoying my time here and giving it my best and that’s it. Winning or losing, you should put 100% in for every match and I’m looking forward to the next round.”
On court two, Aly Abou Eleinen kicked off his Manchester Open campaign with a 3-1 victory over Cesar Salazar.
The Egyptian, who recently impressed at the World Championships where he defeated World No.8 Victor Crouin, continued his strong form when he raced into a two-game lead.
However Salazar, who was facing Eleinen for the first time on the PSA World Tour, responded by taking the third 11-5, but Eleinen won the fourth 11-3.
Results
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [WC] Finnlay Withington (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7 (44m)
Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 3-1: 11-1, 11-5, 5-11, 11-3 (44m)
Abbas Holds Off Malliff Fightback; Hutton Dispatches Soini
Egyptian Nada Abbas held off a spirited fightback from England’s Katie Malliff to secure her place in the next round of the Manchester Open.
Former World No.12 Abbas went two games up, winning 11-4 and 11-4, as she looked on course for a spot in the second round.
However Malliff halved the deficit as she clinched a tightly contested third game, which was briefly halted with the score at 8-6 in favour of Abbas due to a contributed blood injury sustained by Malliff.
Malliff was buoyed by her performance in the third, which carried through to the fourth game as she had game ball and looked as though she’d restore parity.
However Abbas fought back to force a tiebreak, where the Egyptian came out on top 12-10.
Meanwhile on court two, Jasmine Hutton eased into the second round with a resounding win against Emilia Soini.
The Englishwoman wasted little time in bagging her place in the next round, with the match sewn up in just 17 minutes following an accomplished performance from Hutton.
“I’m really happy to get off in three. Emilia can be a very dangerous opponent and she didn’t seem quite right today. But I’m happy to keep my focus and hit some good targets,” Hutton said.
“I feel like I was moving well. It’s been a busy few weeks, but mentally I’m feeling really fresh and I’m really excited to keep going throughout this event. I’m feeling good.
“I’m excited (to play Joelle King in round two). We get on really well and she’s like a big sister to me on tour! No respect tomorrow but I’m really looking forward to it.”
Results
Nada Abbas (EGY) bt Katie Malliff (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10 (57m)
Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt Emilia Soini (FIN) 3-0: 11-2, 11-2, 11-2 (17m)
Rooney Wins All-English Battle; Pajares Bernabeu Comes From Behind To Triumph
Patrick Rooney came out on top in the all-English battle in the final match of the opening day, knocking his fellow countryman George Parker out.
Rooney drew first blood by taking the first 11-6, but Parker swiftly responded to equalise. Parker had four game balls, with three of them squandered. However he managed to convert at the fourth attempt to make it one game apiece.
But Rooney found his groove despite a minor setback from conceding the second game, taking the third and fourth games 11-6 and 11-3 to tee up a second round clash with Youssef Soliman tomorrow night.
Post-match, Rooney said: “I’m feeling good. It was coming off the racket quite nicely today and I felt the court was quite dead. I’m not sure if it’s usually like that, but it felt like it today.
“I thought I was playing my shots quite well, working him as well as I wanted to, hitting accurate shots and I’m feeling good.
“I’ve not had an easy draw for around three years now! I don’t think it exists anymore – everyone is really good. Youssef (Soliman) is a class player. He’s solid and I’m in the same age group as him so I grew up watching him play, I know his game, I’ve never beaten him so hopefully tomorrow is the day.”
Over on court two, Iker Pajares Bernabeu came from one game down to defeat Gregoire Marche.
Marche clinched the first 11-3 before Pajares levelled having nudged the second game in a tiebreak. The Spaniard claimed the third and fourth games 11-6 and 11-8 for a second round spot.
Results
Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt George Parker (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3 (46m)
Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-1: 3-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-8 (59m)
Results, Evening Session: Manchester Open Men’s Round One
Iker Pajares Bernabeu (ESP) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-1: 3-11, 13-11, 11-6, 11-8 (59m)
Patrick Rooney (ENG) bt George Parker (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3 (46m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [WC] Finnlay Withington (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7 (44m)
Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 3-1: 11-1, 11-5, 5-11, 11-3 (44m)
Results, Evening Session: Manchester Open Women’s Round One
Yathreb Adel (EGY) bt [WC] Saran Nghiem (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-6 (25m)
Nada Abbas (EGY) bt Katie Malliff (ENG) 3-1: 11-4, 11-8, 9-11, 12-10 (57m)
Satomi Watanabe (JPN) bt Hana Moataz (EGY) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 (30m)
Jasmine Hutton (ENG) bt Emilia Soini (FIN) 3-0: 11-2, 11-2, 11-2 (17m)
