Men's Balance Restored In Hong Kong Open

Following two days of upsets and shock defeats, balance was restored during the second round of the 2014 Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open as all six remaining seeds booked their places in Friday's men's quarter-finals.

World No1 and tournament favourite Gregory Gaultier led the charge as he continued his dominant form, easily despatching Egyptian talent Fares Dessouki 3/0, while number two seed Mohamed Elshorbagy was equally as comprehensive as he saw off Guernsey's Chris Simpson 3/0 in a dominant performance.

World No7 and 2013 Hong Kong Open runner-up Borja Golan survived a tough and testing encounter against 20-year-old Egyptian world No42 Mohamed Abouelghar, eventually coming through an 11-7, 6-11, 11-7, 3-11, 11-4 winner.

It was Golan's first match of the tournament following first round opponent Lauren Jans Anjema's withdrawal due to a foot injury - but he showed no signs of rustiness as he recorded a second victory over the talented young Egyptian inside a week.

"I played against Mohamed last week (in the Malaysian Open) and beat him 3/1 in a really close match and I knew he would be tough again today so I'm very happy to have won," said the 31-year-old Spanish star.

"It was my first match of the tournament and I was maybe guilty of losing my concentration at times but all credit to him as he was playing really well. He gave away a few mistakes in the end and I think experience was important at that stage.

"It's always better to have a match in the bag because you move with more confidence but perhaps if I had played yesterday I would have lost so I just focused on starting well and playing well today.

"I'm in the quarter-finals now and I'm going to enjoy the match and try my best to make the semis."

Egyptian world No12 Tarek Momen backed up his impressive first round victory over 2011 Hong Kong Open champion and number three seed James Willstrop with a solid performance against qualifier Shaun le Roux.

The powerful South African champion made it difficult for the deceptive Momen, forcing the 27-year-old to work for every point and extending two games into tie-break situations - but despite dropping the second game it was Momen who triumphed 12-10, 7-11, 13-11, 11-6.

Elsewhere German Simon Rösner ended the run of surprise package Alfredo Avila, the young Mexican who knocked out Marwan Elshorbagy in round one - while English pairing Daryl Selby and Peter Barker join Nicolas Mueller in the last eight, after the Swiss national champion came through an epic 69-minute thriller against Gregoire Marche, coming from 2/0 down to mount a dramatic comeback and steal an 8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-4, 11-8 victory.