Breakthrough Win Carries Home Hero Harrity Into Squash On Fire Quarters

USA No.4 Todd Harrity progressed to a career-first PSA World Tour quarter-final after upsetting No.7 seed Omar Mosaad in straight games in the Squash On Fire Open, the PSA World Tour Bronze event at Squash On Fire in Washington DC.

Harrity - meeting the former world No.3 from Egypt for the fourth time but looking for his first win - claimed an even first game 11-7 and never letting his opponent back in.

The 33-year-old moved Mosaad around the court to great success and played intelligently into the front two corners of the court when well placed on the 'T'. Harrity needed just 29 minutes to progress to match ball, sealing victory by an 11-7, 11-3, 11-4 scoreline.

"I'm so happy," said Harrity, ranked 54 in the world. "It's been such a long time since I've had a big win like that, I've never beaten Omar before. Last time we played it was the opposite result, and I'm really happy with how I played today.

"I had no expectations coming into the match, I just tried to keep him moving around the court, and it worked for me in the end. I was trying to keep him behind me as much as possible.

"I've enjoyed this tournament a lot so far. It feels really good to taste a big win again, and get the competitive side flowing again. I'm really confident after that performance."

Harrity now faces No.2 seed Youssef Soliman for a place in the last four.

A major shock in the women's event saw tournament wildcard Menna Walid fight back from 2/0 down and four match balls down to claim a remarkable victory over No.5 seed Lucy Turmel and progress to her maiden PSA World Tour quarter-final.

The world No.70, who secured her spot in the main draw of the Bronze-level event after winning the Squash On Fire 2024 Wild Card Challenge last week, looked destined for defeat when 10-6 down in the third game, but managed to flip the match on its head with a clinic of powerful, attacking squash.

After staving off all four of Turmel's match balls and clinching the third in a subsequent tie-break, the 19-year-old moved from strength to strength and soon found herself level at two games apiece.

Despite finding herself 5-2 down in the fifth, Walid once again showed maturity beyond her years to work her way back into the game and eventually prevail by an 11-7 scoreline.

"I'm literally over the moon," said the Egyptian teenager after the match. "I started to play my shots when I was 2/0 down and 10-6 down. I had nothing to lose and I gave it my all.

"I think that when I was 2/0 down I didn't play my best squash, but there was still a lot to play, so I just tried to control myself. I kept telling myself to play my best squash because I had nothing to lose because I was playing the world No.24, and then I managed to come back."

On her upcoming quarter-final tie against No.4 seed Tomato Ho, she added: "I'm super excited for tomorrow. I want to give it my all and prove to myself that I'm competing and I'm here to win."