The finals of the 2021 Oracle NetSuite Open takes place at the spectacular Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco this evening, and you can stay up to date with all the reaction from those in action on the glass court right here.
Play was due to start at 19:15 (GMT-7), but due to the inclement weather conditions in the Bay Area, play was delayed by 45 minutes to allow the court to dry and for conditions to improve, with a new scheduled start time of 20:00 (GMT-7).
Egypt’s Salma Hany features in the biggest final of her career to date, and she will face US No.1 Amanda Sobhy, who will surely have the home crowd behind her. Following that, the men’s final, which features World No.1 Ali Farag and World No.3 Paul Coll, will take place.
Sobhy Claims Second Oracle NetSuite Open Title
Amanda Sobhy has taken the spoils at the 2021 Oracle NetSuite Open after defeating Egypt’s Salma Hany in straight games in the women’s final at Embarcadero Plaza in San Francisco.
The pair had met five times previously on the PSA World Tour, with the American having won all of those contests, including their last meeting, which came just two weeks ago in the quarter-finals of the CIB Egyptian Open.
It was Sobhy that came flying out of the traps, as the crowd buoyed her on. Her line hitting was sublime from the off, and that helped her take the first game 11-7. The US No.1 continued that form into the second, and although Hany threatened a run through the middle of the game, it was Sobhy that went two games to the good.
The third was a foregone conclusion in the end, as ‘Southpaw’ ran out into an 8-2 lead in quick-fire fashion. She rounded out the game with a lovely backhand drive down the line, to claim the biggest title of her career so far, and her second Oracle NetSuite Open, after her win in San Francisco in 2015.
“There is literally steam coming off of my forehead. I am speechless, honestly,” Sobhy said.
“I haven’t won a major title before and if I cry, it has been an emotional week! It has been a long year, I am a bit frazzled so for me to win is extra special. Those close to me knew the state I was in last week so I have to thank my support system this past week. I have to really thank Charlie Johnson, who has been my on-site support system this week.
“It really means a lot. I’ll wrap it up soon, but to come back after winning it in 2015, and now to win it at a Gold level, it really means a lot, and to do it on home soil is massive. I thank you all for being here in the cold and the rain and for supporting me all week.
“I was a little bit edgy, I tried not to think it was a final. We were both vying for our first major title, and so the nerves came. I felt a bit tense, but I tried to be as aggressive as possible. We had one massive rally in the third and I definitely felt that after a week of short matches! I am very pleased to have won in three!
“There is a massive college squash community. There has been a discussion whether going to college and then going pro helps or hinders your pro career. It is a testament to see all of us college players do well on the pro tour and choose the college route. It makes it possible and I hope more people are encouraged to do that!”
Result
[2] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [6] Salma Hany (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-8, 11-4 (32m)
“Amanda [Sobhy] said it best in her post-match interview. I hope it inspires a lot of people to go down that route of going to college, getting a good degree and then coming back on the professional circuit and achieve all the highs they want to.It is amazing to have all my friends and teammates from Harvard here. I can’t forget Mike Way, who is watching from afar, and my people back home, Karim Darwish, a former World No.1 himself. He has been working very hard with me, my fitness trainers and obviously my family who have been waking up at five in the morning! This support means a lot to me.”
Originally Published on: PSA World Tour