Orfi, 16, Fights Back To Reach Second Platinum Quarter Final

"It's an amazing win," conceded Amina Orfi after the 16-year-old Egyptian twice battled back from behind against 7th seed Tinne Gilis to advance to the quarter finals of the 2024 JP Morgan Tournament of Champions, marking her second appearance in the last eight of a Platinum-level event this season.

Orfi, who was a quarter finalist at the 2023 US Open back in October, trailed 2/1 to world No.8 Gilis before drawing level by taking the fourth 11-9 then edging a closely-fought fifth game to seal a place in the last eight.

"I was down 2/1 in games and I came back and in the last I was 9-6 up and she came back and with the decisions at the end, it could have gone either way," added the Cairo teenager.

"I really enjoy this court and the people that watch, it's amazing. I think it's great for the sport, they were cheering for both of us, which is great."

Asked to comment on her possible next opponent - at that point either Rowan Elaraby or Nele Gilis - Orfi explained: "I've played them both once before so depending on who wins, it's more serious with a semi-final place up for grabs."

Elaraby later prevailed against Gilis senior, the event's No.4 seed - not only leading to the fact that a 9/16 seed will appear in the semi-finals, but also that the quarter-final line-up will feature only one non-Egyptian, home hope Olivia Weaver, the No.8 seed!

In the men's draw, defending champion Diego Elias overcame Youssef Ibrahim to tee up a quarter final showdown with Egypt's Mazen Hesham.

The Peruvian won 3/1, with two injury breaks disrupting the flow of Ibrahim as Elias used his court craft well to see off the Egyptian and continue his title defence in New York.