Former World No.1 Karim Abdel Gawad caused a seedings upset on the traditional courts as he knocked out World No.6 Marwan ElShorbagy, while Amanda Sobhy fended off 16-year-old Amina Orfi to reach the quarter final in the evening session of the QTerminals Qatar Classic.
On the glass court, American No.1 Sobhy took on Egyptian prodigy and potential stumbling block Orfi.
The No.7 seed took the first game in convincing fashion as the 16-year-old couldn’t match her powerful brand of squash.
Amanda Sobhy prepares to return the ball against Amina Orfi in the 2023 Qatar Classic.
The players went toe-to-toe for points in the second game up to 11-11, before Orfi displayed her grit and took the fight to Sobhy to win the game 13-11 and tie the match up.
The third game was just as competitive, but the American made use of her control of the front and edged the points to come out with a one-game advantage in the match. In the end, experience overcame youth as the Egyptian couldn’t keep up with Sobhy as the American pulled away from 4-4 in the fourth game to an 11-6 win as the World No.5 became the fourth woman to reach the quarter final.
Sobhy will face No.1 seed Nouran Gohar after the Egyptian out-muscled American Olivia Fiechter to win 11-5, 11-4, 11-4.
The QTerminals Qatar Classic continues tomorrow from 12:00 (GMT+3). Watch live on SQUASHTV or follow the live scores here.
Results: QTerminals Qatar Classic Women’s RD3 – Evening Session
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt Olivia Fiechter (USA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-4, 11-4 (26m)
[7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Amina Orfi (EGY) 3-1: 1-3, 11-13, 11-9, 11-6 (50m)