Qualifiers Karwalski & Shoukry In Chicago Shake-Up

Qualifiers Matthew Karwalski and Andrew Wagih Shoukry upset the form book in the opening round of the Metro Squash Windy City Open, the long-established PSA World Tour International 25 squash event at the University Club of Chicago in Chicago, USA.

Australian Karwalski, a 27-year-old from New South Wales, took out experienced Egyptian Omar Abdel Aziz, ranked 46 in the world.

"Karwalski was nearly flawless in stopping the tough Egyptian," said event spokesman William James. "Aziz seemed out of sorts as his shots and strategy weren't coming off, but all credit goes to Karwalski for applying basic pressure, taking the ball early, winning points on volleys, drops and boasts, using every inch of the court and rising to the occasion."

The 11-9, 11-4, 11-6 victory takes world No58 Karwalski through to a quarter-final clash with third-seeded Scot Alan Clyne. The world No28 from Edinburgh denied birthday boy Leo Au a place in the last eight, beating the Hong Kong opponent on the eve of his 23rd birthday 11-2, 14-12, 11-9.

But Egyptian Shoukry, lower-ranked than fellow qualifier Karwalski, also recorded a shock win when he beat experienced Canadian and fellow Cairo-born Shahier Razik 11-8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-5 in 74 minutes.

"Razik didn't apply enough pressure in game one, responding more than initiating, but somewhere in game two he gained confidence," explained James. "This led Shoukry to force his shots more as fatigue crept in.

"Razik's patience and persistence were paying now and he took the game. But the Egyptian had more fight left in him. In the end, 21-year-old Shoukry had too much speed, strength and skill to be beaten tonight."

Shoukry, ranked 68 in the world, progresses to play Max Lee, the fourth seed from Hong Kong who put out New Zealander Campbell Grayson 11-9, 6-11, 11-7, 12-10.

There was further New Zealand disappointment when world No43 Martin Knight went down 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 to Egyptian teenager Karim Ali Fathi.

"Fathi was fast, powerful, and inventive which relegated Knight to a reactionary role," said spokesman James. "Knight fought well for a while, but the Egyptian ultimately forced him to make errors that cost him the match tonight."

The UK-based 19-year-old - competing in the USA for the first time - now faces top seed Borja Golan for a place in the last four. Spaniard Golan, ranked ten in the world, was stretched for 52 minutes before seeing off Egyptian Omar Abdel Meguid 11-5, 11-3, 13-11.

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Borja Golan (ESP) v Karim Ali Fathi (EGY)
[4] Max Lee (HKG) v [Q] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY)
[3] Alan Clyne (SCO) v [Q] Matthew Karwalski (AUS)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)

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