El Halaby Ousts White In First Tournament of Champions Upset

Qualifier Yasser El Halaby pulled off the first upset on the opening day of main round action in the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions when he battled to a five-game win over 15th seed John White in the $117,500 PSA Tour Super Series Gold squash event at Grand Central Terminal in New York.

Although he plays under the Egyptian flag, the Princeton University graduate was the hometown favourite in his opening round match and he rewarded his local fans with a 12-10, 4-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7 victory over former White, a former world number one.

El Halaby, who now makes his home in New York City, was nervous going into the match: "Last year, I think I played my worst match ever right here." The 24-year-old knew he had an opportunity to improve on his 2008 performance when he drew the veteran John White, who was playing in his final Tournament of Champions having announced his retirement from the PSA Tour to devote all his energy to coaching the Franklin & Marshall College squash team.

White - at 35, the oldest player in the field - extended his opponent for 51 minutes, but El Halaby controlled his nerves sufficiently to seize the victory. The lowest-ranked player in the tournament will now meet Englishman James Willstrop.

The fifth seed prevailed in a scrappy match against tenacious Finn Olli Tuominen. Willstrop's all court game ultimately gave him the winning edge and he closed out the match 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8.

Two-time champion Amr Shabana, who had missed last year's championship for the birth of his first child, was happy to be back on the glass court under the chandeliers in Vanderbilt Hall. "I missed the atmosphere here - it's like a great party," said the Egyptian.

The top seed made it his party with a straightforward 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 win in 31 minutes over France's Renan Lavigne, who may have been a bit tired from his 113-minute marathon qualifying match the previous night. Shabana's next opponent, however, will be more rested: England's Nick Matthew advanced in the draw without having to play when Australia's Stewart Boswell had to withdraw due to a groin injury.

The opening day of the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions got off to a rollicking start in Grand Central Terminal with sell-out crowds and solid play. "When I walked in here tonight, it looked like it was the finals," said defending champion Ramy Ashour, referring to the capacity crowd which was buzzing with energy and enthusiasm.

Although he dropped the first game, the consummately gifted Egyptian shot-maker got his game back on track in the second and comfortably beat Australian Cameron Pilley in four games.

"I started strong," said Pilley after the match. "But as soon as I got a little tired, Ramy just put the ball away." Ashour will next face Laurens Jan Anjema of the Netherlands who defeated qualifier Amr Swelim of Egypt in straight games.

1st round (top half of draw):
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [Q] Renan Lavigne (FRA) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (31m)
[10] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Stewart Boswell (AUS) w/o
[5] James Willstrop (ENG) bt Olli Tuominen (FIN) 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 (56m)
[Q] Yasser El Halaby (EGY) bt [15] John White (SCO) 12-10, 4-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-7 (51m)
[3] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 9-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (52m)
[16] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) bt [Q] Amr Swelim (EGY) 14-12, 11-7, 11-5 (40m)
[7] Thierry Lincou (FRA) bt Julian Illingworth (USA) 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 (41m)
[9] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 12-10, 11-4, 11-1 (30m)