Sobhy Sinks Gohar In Emotional Windy City Win

America's world No.30 Amanda Sobhy cemented her return to top form following a career-threatening injury with an emotional win over Egypt's world No.6 Nouran Gohar in the second round of the 2018 Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family & EquiTrust Life Insurance Company.

The charismatic US star endured a 10-month injury lay-off following a torn Achilles in the early stages of 2017, during which time a return to the top of the world rankings seemed beyond reach. After an under-par return to action earlier this year at New York's Tournament of Champions, the New Yorker showed that she is back to her best as she recovered from dropping the first game to prevail 8-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5.

Gohar took the first game, but Sobhy battled back in the second, leaving the Egyptian struggling to find an answer to her attacking onslaught as she booked a place in a third successive Windy City Open quarter-final - which this year offers a record high prize fund of $250,000 in both the men's and women's draws.

"It's been such a long journey," said an emotional Sobhy following her win. "I know I came back at ToC but I really had my eye set on this tournament. I really wanted to prove to myself that I've got this and told my coaches that I wanted to go on my own to do it by myself.

"I wanted to prove to myself that I've come all this way and I've fought back from injury and I can still beat the top people.

"The fact that I've come so far and gone through so much and built myself back up from the ground and got this win against a top six player, I'm really happy.

"I have a massive team around me and it has been a major team effort - I couldn't have done it without all of their help and support. It has been a long process, but they have stuck by me and I can't thank them enough.

"If there was ever a tournament to win then this would be a good one. I love Chicago - being the home girl is awesome and having everyone's support."

Elsewhere in the women's event, England's former world No.1 Laura Massaro, the No.4 seed, was knocked out by ninth seed Joelle King after the world No.9 from New Zealand produced a phenomenal comeback to reach the quarter-finals of this year's tournament.

King looked down and out in the first game as a confident Massaro took full control before the Kiwi regained her composure to use her athleticism to full effect to win 6-11, 11-9, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6 in 70 minutes.

"Playing Laura is never easy," said the 29-year-old.

"I've only beaten her once, and that was last year, so it's always a tough mental battle. I had to dig deep to come back so I'm really proud of that win.

Egypt's Raneem El Welily kept her title defence alive as she conquered England's Emily Whitlock in straight games, while England's Alison Waters completed the women's quarter-final line-up after downing shock first round winner Hania El Hammamy.

In the men's draw, Colombia's Miguel Angel Rodriquez and Hong Kong's Max Lee played out one of the matches of the tournament so far as they brought the crowd in Cathedral Hall at the University Club of Chicago to their feet during a 78-minute thriller.

Rodriguez took the opener, before Lee - who ousted world No.9 Mohamed Abouelghar in round one - battled back to take a 2/1 lead forcing Rodriguez to dig deep to claim an 11-7, 11-13, 10-12, 11-5, 11-6 victory in a humdinger of a match.

"We are good friends and I've played with Max many times before," said Rodriguez, now in his first World Series quarter-final for almost two years.

"He was 2/1 up and mentally it is very tough to come back from that but I think I stayed positive. I saw at the end of the fourth he was tired so I had to come back stronger.

"I'm pleased to see that he is back at his best, he is a fantastic player. We enjoyed the game and I think the crowd did too but I'm happy to win and to be in the quarter-finals and with my performance."

Rodriguez will go up against soon-to-be world No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy in the next round after the Egyptian defeated France's Mathieu Castagnet in straight games, while Egyptian pair Tarek Momen and Karim Abdel Gawad also prevailed - with Momen securing his first ever victory over three-time World Champion Ramy Ashour.

Ashour started the match strongly, moving with grace and ease as he unleashed an array of sublime winners, but as the match wore on it was clear to see that the Egyptian was struggling with his movement as Momen - who has reached the Qatar Classic and Tournament of Champions finals this season - maintained his focus to close out the win.

"It's a very tricky match playing against Ramy," said Momen.

"We grew up in the same generation and he is only a few months older than me and for the past 25 years I haven't beaten him once.

"The way he played the first game is a taste of what he can do on court. He's had some struggles for the past few years and he's trying to come back and so, I'm always on edge because I don't know what to expect.

"I'm very happy with the way I played today and how I handled the situation because I couldn't tell if something was going to happen. I felt like we both played some good squash and I'm happy that I'm through."