World No.6 Amanda Sobhy - the highest ranked U.S.-born player ever - emerged victorious in a momentous all-American encounter with Olivia Blatchford today (Feb 26) to reach the quarter-finals of the 2017 Windy City Open presented by Guggenheim Partners & EquiTrust Life Insurance Company.
23-year-old Sobhy, in the first meeting this century between two US-born players this deep into a PSA World Series tournament, came through in four games against 24-year-old Blatchford, having been made to work hard for the win by the World No.26.
After taking the first comfortably Sobhy found herself drawn into a real battle as Blatchford upped her game to take the second 12-10 in a tie-break. And Sobhy could have gone behind in the third, managing to get out of trouble and take it 12-10 before sealing the win with a one-way 11-3 fourth game.
"It was difficult mentally out there against a good friend," said Sobhy.
"I got a bit edgy when things where getting close. She played well in the big points and I was really bummed to lose the second game. I finally felt like I relaxed in the fourth so hopefully I can play the whole match tomorrow like that.
"But I enjoyed the match today. It's great to have two US players at this stage of a major event. It shows that we can produce the talent so hopefully we will see more of it in the future."
Sobhy will take on 2016, and 2015, tournament winner Raneem El Welily, the Egyptian former World No.1, for a place in the semi-finals after she downed Hong Kong's Annie Au with little difficulty. Joining them in the last eight were 2014 tournament winner Laura Massaro and World No.4 Nouran Gohar - who had to come from behind to defeat the in-form Sarah-Jane Perry.
The Englishwoman, who broke into the top ten for the first time in her career last month, took the opening game 11-6 and enjoyed periods of control. But Gohar stayed calm, applied pressure through her hard-hitting style and was rewarded when Perry slowed up physiclaly n the third, setting the platform for the win.
"It was a big battle, she's in-form at the moment and I'd never beaten her before," said Gohar.
"I had to play very well today. She's just made the top 10 so I had to be 100 per cent ready mentally and physically.
"In the first game it was all her - I just tried to stick in there and dig deep to win the match."
Results (Bottom Half) - Men's Second Round: 2017 Windy City Open
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 3-0: 11-2, 11-0, 11-1 (16m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 3-1: 11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 13-11 (70m)
Borja Golan (ESP) bt [Q] Leo Au (HKG) 3-1: 1-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-7 (56m)
[2] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Fares Dessouky (EGY) 3-1: 11-6, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9 (59m)
Draw - Quarter-finals:
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v [5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)
[6] Ali Farag (EGY) v Simon Rösner (GER)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v James Willstrop (ENG)
Borja Golan (ESP) v [2] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Results (Bottom Half) - Women's Second Round: 2017 Windy City Open
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [11] Annie Au (HKG) 3-1: 11-8, 8-11, 11-4, 11-7 (37m)
[6] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [WC] Olivia Blatchford (USA) 3-1: 11-7, 12-14, 12-10, 11-3 (41m)
[5] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Samantha Cornett (CAN) 3-0: 11-2, 11-8, 11-8 (30m)
[2] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [10] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 3-1: 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-6 (49m)
Draw - Quarter-finals
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) v [7] Nicol David (MAS)
[8] Alison Waters (ENG) v [4] Camille Serme (FRA)
[3] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [6] Amanda Sobhy (USA)
[5] Laura Massaro (ENG) v [2] Nouran Gohar (EGY)
