Favourite Elshorbagy Narrowly Avoids British Open Exit

Egypt's world No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy narrowly avoided crashing out of the 2015 Allam British Open at the second round stage following a gritty encounter with top Spanish player Borja Golan at the Airco Arena in Hull today.

The Bristol-based 24-year-old, who has failed to add to his World Series trophy tally since winning January's J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions, appeared to struggle at times with a heavily-strapped right leg but managed to find enough in his locker to see off a spirited challenge from 32-year-old Golan.

"Borja played very well tonight and he played completely differently to how he normally plays against me and he had me very nervous," said Elshorbagy.

"Especially in the fourth game he played very well and I had to dig deep in the fifth and use some experience to stay in there and I'm just glad I was able to finish it off at the end.

"I had a bit of slip against James (Willstrop) in the first round and hurt my leg but hopefully I can carry on all week. It's the last event of the season and I know that even on one leg I can keep going - I'm in the quarter-finals now and I have a rest day to take full advantage of tomorrow."

Earlier in the day England's three-time British Open champion Nick Matthew, the 34-year-old from Sheffield, produced a tough come-from-behind victory over Frenchman Gregoire Marche after just over an hour on court and will now face a second consecutive Frenchman in the last eight in the form of World No.11 Mathieu Castagnet.

"Gregoire made me use every ounce of experience on the court tonight," said Matthew.

"I'm starting slowly and tentatively at the minute and you can't afford to give these guys a head start early on, they're getting out to 7-1 before I'm starting to get firing, so there's plenty to work on ahead of the quarter-finals."