What's been happening in the world of squash (17th to 23rd of October 2016)

Conquest of the world

Ten years later, the Men’s World Championship is back to Egypt, while the country just broke ground by becoming the first one ever to boast seven players inside the World’s Top Ten. The pinnacle of squash (prize money of $325,000) started yesterday at the Wadi Degla El Nakhil club in Cairo, with the qualifying draw taking place until Wednesday. Egypt is obviously the most represented nation with 14 players out of the 48 in the main draw, followed by England (8) and France (5). There’s been numerous upsets since the beginning of the season, but the favourite remains world number 1 Mohamed El Shorbagy, recent winner of the US Open in Philadelphia after a stuttering start in 2016-2017. “Last season was the best of my life, winning six World Series titles, he said (Source: psaworldtour.com). I had just one bad day and unluckily for me it happened at the World Championship. But I am proud of how I came back stronger after that loss. Knowing that this is the only major title left for me to win in my career when I am still 25 makes me smile and be proud of what I have achieved so far.”

Photo credit: US Open Squash

However, the man from Alexandria will have a tough road to the final, with a potential third round encounter with Aussie Cameron Pilley - who has caused him a lot of problems recently. He also finds James Willstrop, Ali Farag, Nick Matthew and in form Karim Abdel Gawad in his part of the draw. Seed number 2 is Frenchman Grégory Gaultier, who finally conquered the world title last year in Seattle after four crushing defeats in the final between 2016 and 2013. Like El Shorbagy, the world number 2 hasn’t had the greatest of starts this season. “But I am not worried, he said to us. At my age, mental strength is more important than anything else. I hope I’ll feel good once I am there, but one thing’s for sure I’ll be determined to keep my title.” His ability to expedite his first round matches will certainly play in his favour in such a tournament. Besides, his draw seems easier than El Shorbagy's until the quarters where he may face Mohamed's younger brother Marwan (who had beaten him in the Grasshopper Cup back in May but the Frenchman took his revenge at the NetSuite Open a few weeks ago). He could then clash with Ramy Ashour in the semis. The three-time world champion – who has not played since retiring at Al-Ahram because of an Achilles injury -  has had a long history with Gaultier at the World Championship (3-3 in the H2H).

Photo credit: squashsite

A brand new women's PSA W50 tournament will also run parallel to the Men's World Championship. Five players among the world top 10 will compete for the title, including Malaysian superstar Nicol David and home girl Raneem El Welily, who plays for Wadi Degla.

Around the world

World number 1 Nour El Sherbini won her first tournament since her world title back in April. She didn’t drop a game all week at the Carol Weymuller Open (PSA $50,000 $) in Brooklyn (a tournament she had also won in 2015). In the final, she saved a game ball in the first against England’s Alison Waters - who had ended US Open champion Camille Serme's run in the semis – before closing the match in 40 minutes --- Top seeds met in the final of the CNS International Squash Championship (PSA $25,000 $) in Islamabad, Pakistan. Egypt’s Zahed Mohamed clinched his biggest PSA title – and the first in 4 years - beating his fellow countryman Omar Abdel Meguid (who retired at 2-0 and 6-3 down in the third). Mohamed will try and carry this form in the World Championship where he faces Hong Kong #1 Max Lee in the first round.

Photo credit: Carol Weymuller Open

What a week for New Zealand’s Campbell Grayson at the LifeTime Open (PSA $10,000 $) in Chicago. The kiwi won three five setters in a row, especially in the final against Scotsman Greg Lobban after being two games down. The turning point was the knee injury undergone at 9-9 in the third game by Lobban after an awkward landing. It is Grayson’s 11^th title on the PSA world tour --- Former world number 36 Zac Alexander, who now only plays tournaments in Australia, continued his impressive run at the Q Squash Ltd Queensland Open 2016 in Gold Coast, Australia (PSA $5,000 $), beating fellow Australian Joshua Larkin in the final in 4 tough games. Alexander has now won 9 of his 10 last tournaments (and 39 of his 40 last matches, his only loss being against Paul Coll at the Australian Open in August). New Zealand’s Amanda Landers-Murphy won the women’s event after a five set thriller in the final against South African Milnay Louw.

The tireless Rudi Rohrmuller

Photo credit: squashnet.de

A few professional players played both in PSL on Tuesday and then other league matches at the weekend (in France or Germany). But Rudolf (aka Rudi) Rorhmuller did a little more than that. On Thursday, the 25-year old from Germany (who doesn’t play in PSA but had a very successful career as a junior, being runner-up in the European U19 Championship in 2010) contributed to the victory of his Swiss team (Grabs) away at Bern, beating Kevin Brechbühl in straight games. On Friday night, he played round 5 of Bundesliga with Hamburg away at Paderborn. After winning the first game Rohrmuller lost in 4 against England‘s Daryl Selby. Luckily for his French team Mulhouse, this fixture originally planned on Saturday had been moved forward and Rohrmuller was able to take the first flight to Paris on Saturday morning, before driving to Evreux (in Normandy) to join his teammates Castagnet, Masotti and Perrin. He played a big part in Mulhouse's good start of the season, beating Sam Ellis and Fabien Verseille without dropping a game. But his tour of European squash clubs wasn't finished, and he flew back to Germany as soon as he could (to Eschweiler, close to the Belgian border). On Sunday, he beat Belgium’s Joeri Hapers in straight games, contributing to Hamburg going second in the rankings just behind Paderborn. In the space of 4 days, Rohrmuller played 5 matches in 3 different countries and travelled more than 3000 kms!