Declan Ditches Abouelghar To Make DPD Quarters

England's world No.17 Declan James delivered a huge upset to reach the quarter-finals of the DPD Open when he defeated Egypt's world No.8 Mohamed Abouelghar on day two of the PSA World Tour Gold tournament in Eindhoven.

The England No.1 produced one of the biggest performances of his career to down the seventh seed in straight games in just his second win over a top ten player since overcoming Egypt's Marwan Elshorbagy in last month's Citigold Wealth Management Canary Wharf Classic in London.

Nottingham-born James looked down and out in the opening stages of the first game as Abouelghar took complete control with his artillery of shots to take a 10-5 lead. However, the tall Englishman soon grew into the game, capitalising on any loose shots that came from the racket of the Egyptian to take the first game on the tie-break.

The Englishman then doubled his lead, with Abouelghar allowing errors to affect his game, before the world No.17 was able to close out a 14-12, 12-10, 11-6 victory.

"I knew that I was playing well coming into this event," said 25-year-old James.

"Me and my coach went back after Grasshopper and worked on a couple of things and it seems to have made a difference quickly which I'm really happy about.

"I held myself together, a couple of nerves towards the end of the second, but I managed to convert. It's only my second time beating a top ten player so I'm still learning, but I'm proud of myself and just want to do more this week."

James will now face Simon Rösner for a place in the semi-finals, after the German defeated talented Egyptian Mazen Hesham in straight games.

The German didn't put a foot wrong in the opening two games as he put Hesham, who defeated France's Mathieu Castagnet in round one, to the sword to take an early advantage. The Egyptian came back in the third, but it proved to be in vain as Rösner closed out on the tie-break.

"He is such a unique player," said the 31-year-old German. "You don't know what you are going to get so you can't prepare really. Even though I was 2/0 up, I knew that he could come back at any time, so I just tried to be on my toes, and I think it was good for my confidence today.

"It's amazing to have a tournament here, just to see all of those packages running around the belts is quite amazing and it's a cool new venue."

The other quarter-final match up will see world No.1 Ali Farag take on Colombia's world No.7 Miguel Rodriguez after the Egyptian conquered England's former world No.1 James Willstrop in straight games to advance.

"I'm happy I got the win today," said reigning World Champion Farag. "He came at me in the first and I guess he is more used to the court, but I'm glad I got that one in my favour because the mentality would have been different otherwise.

"It has been an amazing season, but I don't want to stop here. There are a few tournaments left and I want to do well in them."

Rodriguez overcame skilful Englishman Daryl Selby in four games.

Selby overturned multiple game-balls to take the opener, before Rodriguez found his best shots over the course of the next three games to take the match, with some exhibition style rallies between the pair impressing the crowd.

"I really liked it and I'm happy with my performance," said the Colombian afterwards. "In the first game, he played unbelievably well. He was patient, he was getting everything, and I had to come back stronger in the second.

"I tried to stop myself playing in exhibition mode, but that's Selby's fault! I think we had a little bit of fun in the second and third, but overall I think it was a good performance."

Meanwhile, in the women's draw, world No.1 Raneem El Welily scrapped through to the quarter-finals after a five-game battle with England's world No.22 Millie Tomlinson.

The two players had never met before on the PSA Tour, but the 26-year-old Englishwoman pushed the world No.1 all the way as El Welily was forced to call upon her big match experience to dig her out of trouble to claim a narrow 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-5 victory.

"She was really attacking," said the 30-year-old Egyptian after the match. "Everything was going her way and in the nick all the time. It was a very tough match for my first round here but I'm happy to be through and survive the storm.

"I was just trying to manage the conditions. I'm very happy I took the lead in that fifth, she almost came back but I'm happy to finish it in the end."

El Welily will now face Amanda Sobhy for a place in the semi-finals after the US No.1 displayed a dominant performance to down England's former world No.3 Alison Waters in straight games.

Meanwhile the other quarter-final match in the top half of the draw will see England's Sarah-Jane Perry battle against Egypt's world No.3 Nour El Tayeb.

Perry avenged her defeat from a week ago at the Texas Open against former world No.1 Rachael Grinham in Eindhoven to claim a 3/1 victory, while El Tayeb was clinical to dispatch Belgium's Nele Gilis in straight games in the Dutch city.

"I was very prepared," said 25-year-old El Tayeb following her win. "I knew that she could run and pick up everything, so I had to be ready for that. Mentally I was prepared for a hard match and I think I played very well and I'm very happy with my performance.

"The last tournament didn't go as planned, but I think it was very emotional losing in the final of the World Championships, but not an excuse to go out in the first round at Black Ball. I made sure this time that I was ready and prepared for the first round here. It is a learning experience and I learned a lot from my first round loss at the last tournament and I'm ready not to make the same mistakes any time soon I hope."