[2] Olivia Weaver (Usa) 3-0 [3] Rowan Elaraby (Egy) 11-8, 11-3, 11-2 (29m)
Weaver retains DSC Pro title
Olivia Weaver defended her title at the DAC Pro Squash Classic and made it two PSA World Tour titles in as many weeks after a straight-game victory over Rowan Elaraby.
USA #2 Weaver arrived in Detroit this week on the back of victory at the Cincinnati Gaynor Cup, and continued her fin run of form to beat Elaraby, who had beaten top seed Nouran Gohar to reach the final, in just 29 minutes.
“I’m really happy with my performance today. I knew that Rowan would be feeling so good after yesterday, so I knew was going to have to be on it from the very first point and make a statement that I was ready to be out there all day long.
“Fortunately, I think I managed to play some of my best squash and I’m super happy with how I played. I maintained my focus throughout the course of the match, Rowan is so dangerous and can beat anyone on her day, so I’m really pleased.
“This is the first time that I have ever defended a title, so I knew this was an exciting challenge. I think the quick start was super important today. I wasn’t sure whether Rowan might be a little flat because she and Nouran had such a tough match yesterday. I just wanted to come out, hit my targets and play more consistently towards the back and find my length. I felt from the get-go I executed that.
Semi-Finals : Elaraby stuns Gohar to set up final with Weaver
Egypt’s Rowan Elaraby came from 2-1 down to claim her first-ever victory over top seeded compatriot Nouran Gohar in a thrilling 61-minute semi-final at the DAC Pro Squash Classic in Detroit.
The World #10, who had lost all seven of her prior encounters against Gohar, progressed to the title decider of the PSA World Tour Silver event with a performance full of quality and determination.
Defending champion Olivia Weaver will be Elaraby’s opponent in the final after the American defeated Hollie Naughton in four games.
After the match, Elaraby said: “I’m really, really happy. I’ve been waiting for this win for so long and I think I worked very hard to get this win today. I’ve been playing my best squash ever since the start of the season so I just needed a win like that to prove to myself that I can beat the top players.
In the second semi-final of the evening, World #6 Weaver kept her title defence alive in Detroit following a hard-fought victory over Naughton.
After the match, Weaver said: “I’m really happy. I feel Hollie played great today, it was a battle out there and I feel like I had to fight for every single point. Obviously, in the second game I felt like I lost my length a little bit, but I’m really proud with how I bounced back and really pleased with how I finished the match.”
Quarters : Naughton battles past Abbas to reach last four
Canada’s Hollie Naughton fought past fourth seed Nada Abbas in four games to reach the DAC Pro Squash Classic semi-finals and set up a third meeting of the season with Olivia Weaver.
Sixth seed Naughton came from behind in three separate games – notably 10-6 down in the opener – to book her spot in the last four of the PSA World Tour Silver event.
After the match, Naughton said: “I’m relieved to get through that to be honest. I think every game I won I was down in and had to fight back in. I’m really happy with my mental strength to push on through in those key moments.”
The Canadian #1 will play second seed Weaver, who despatched France’s Melissa Alves in straight for the third time in her last four events, with their last two meetings having both gone to five games, and each player winning a match.
Top seed Nouran Gohar looked in ominous form during her quarter-final victory against England’s Jasmine Hutton, needing just 19 minutes to book her spot in the last four where she faces fellow Egyptian Rowan Elaraby, who ended the run of unseeded Hana Moataz in straight games.
“I’m really excited for this semi-final, Nouran and I played recently and I have a good game plan for tomorrow. I just want to play my best squash and see how it goes.”
Round Two : Moataz shocks Mohamed to reach maiden Silver Quarter-Final
Egypt’s Hana Moataz shocked compatriot and fifth seed Farida Mohamed in straight games to progress to her maiden PSA Silver event quarter-final at the DAC Pro Squash Classic.
“I’m really happy with today’s win,” Moataz said. “I think it is my first win against a top 20 player and I’m really happy I could win in three. “I played Farida in El Gouna last season and there was a lot happening, and I lost my focus and lost that match, so today I was just trying to focus on my game and not get caught up with whatever is happening with my opponent. I’m glad I was able to stick to my plan and not get distracted by anything.
Elsewhere, reigning champion Olivia Weaver and 2021 winner Nouran Gohar both cruised into the last eight. Weaver, who is currently boasting a career-high rank of World No.6 and arrives on the back of claiming the Cincinnati Gaynor Cup title last week, needed just 21 minutes to defeat Nadine Shahin, while top seed Gohar powered past compatriot Menna Hamed.
Meanwhile, fourth seed Nada Abbas avoided a scare against Egyptian compatriot Kenzy Ayman, coming from two games down to book her spot in the quarter-finals, while Jasmine Hutton beat eighth seed Lucy Beecroft in straight games in an all=English matchup.
Round One : Mead and Hamed in upsets as Hutton wins all-English clash
England’s Jasmine Hutton saw off the threat of compatriot Torrie Malik in a tough four-game encounter to book her spot in the DAC Pro Squash Classic second round, the two-time British Nationals winner setting up a repeat of the 2022 Nationals final with Lucy Beecroft.
“I was really pleased with my performance in the first two games and then my concentration slipped a bit and Torrie actually got better as the match went on. “I got a little edgy at the back end of those last two games and it didn’t feel like there was much rhythm there. It was very stop-start and lots of three-shot rallies, and I don’t really like to play that type of game.”
There were two opening day seeding upsets as Egypt’s Menna Hamed beat Anna Serme to set up a match with top seed Nouran Gohar, while England’s Alicia Mead took out recently married Latvian Ineta Hopton (Mackeveica).
