“Top 5 is my goal for this season”

Egypt’s 19-year-old Fayrouz Aboelkheir has often been in the shadow of fellow Egyptian teenager Amina Orfi throughout the last few years, with both being a similar age and competing in the world’s biggest tournaments, but Orfi claiming the headlines.

Aboelkheir’s recent form has finally put her in the spotlight as she targets a seat at the top table before the season is through.

Fayrouz is one of the most in-from players in the world this season. She’s won a Bronze and two Silver events so far, reached a Platinum event second round and mostly impressively reached the final four of the first Diamond event in Egypt, beating idol and 8x World Champion Nour ElSherbini in the quarter finals. A moment that Aboelkheir will never forget.

“It’s always emotional and very hard to play against Nour [ElSherbini],” said Aboelkheir.

“I grew up watching her, so playing against her is just a feeling that cant be expressed, and winning was something else! I was so emotional!

“Definitely reaching the semi-final of a Diamond event is the biggest result I’ve had so far, it was just amazing. I think my squash has improved a lot but most importantly, my physicality and mental ability. I still need to work more on my consistency, but I think I’m under ranked. I think my squash is at a top 5 level, and I can’t wait to play and get to win more big matches.”

Aboelkheir is currently ranked just outside the world’s top 10 at World No.11. The recent Hong Kong FC Open champion has been part of a group of players that all seem to be capable of beating each other. She’s keen to break away from this group but admits that they’re all chasing the same thing…consistency.

“From my point of view, I think the main difference between the top 10 and top 20 players is consistency. Level wise, I think we’re all almost the same with slight differences of course, so it’s all about consistency and it’s not only about one big win but trying to get multiple to get into the top 10.”

Aboelkheir’s first win of the season came at the Open Squash Classic Bronze event in New York. The No.2 seed came through a bruising clash with Farida Mohamed in the semi-finals before beating another compatriot, Nada Abbas, in a four-game final. A big win for the teenager and one which she was very proud of.

“I was very pleased. During the tournament, I didn’t feel like I had much strength in my body, because the tournaments were coming thick and fast. I had to play my best squash during that week to win, I had tough matches, especially the semis and the final, so I was very pleased with my performance and squash all week and even happier to get the win.”

The Egyptian then headed to Philadelphia for the U.S Open and faced a clash with No.4 seed Olivia Weaver in round two. Weaver has been one of the tour’s most consitent top-level performers over the last few seasons but in a match that went all the way to five games, Weaver advanced but not in comfortable fashion.

“The US Open was a huge event for me. I only had 10 days in between the events, it was my and third consecutive event without going back home. I’m not usually the best at playing back to back events, then going on court with Olivia [Weaver], I actually felt fit and quite fresh. I was actually quite disappointed that I didn’t get the win but I felt like I learned a lot from this match.”

As mentioned, Aboelkheir is agonisingly close to claiming a spot in the top 10 for the first time in her career. But a spot in the top 10 is not all that the 19-year-old wants to accomplish this season.

“I’m taking it step by step. Breaking into the top 10 is the first step then top 8 then top 5 is my goal for the end of the season. I have the Silver and Platinum events in Hong Kong coming up too so I’m excited to play those and see what I can do before the end of the year.”