World No.1 Elias Survives Scare to Reach World Quarters

World No.1 Diego Elias was on the brink of elimination from the PSA World Championships presented by the Walter Family before fighting back from two games down to beat India's Saurav Ghosal at Union Station in Chicago.

"Saurav was playing great squash from the beginning," said Elias, after his 9-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-3, 12-10 victory in 83 minutes.

"He had a good game plan against me and I couldn't figure it out at the start," explained the Peruvian who is aiming to become the first South American to win the PSA World title. "It took me a couple of games and I'm just very happy I could come back from that because I was under a lot of pressure and I didn't start in the best way.

"I wasn't moving great. I think I can improve a lot of things for the next match and just be way more aggressive. Hopefully I'll be moving better in the next one."

Elias will now face Karim Abdel Gawad after the unseeded Egyptian upset compatriot Marwan ElShorbagy, the No.6 seed, 11-7, 11-3, 11-9.

Meanwhile, world No.11 Nele Gilis has become the first Belgian women ever to reach the last eight of the sport's most prestigious tournament as she upset the seedings to overcome Olivia Fiechter, the US world No.7, winning 9-11, 13-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-8 after 94 minutes of pulsating action.