2:55 pm
10 Oct 2024

Teenage Sensation Fayrouz Aboelkheir Reaches Maiden Platinum Quarter Final

21 Jan 2024

17-year-old Egyptian Fayrouz Aboelkheir reached her first Platinum event quarter final after an impressive performance against compatriot Salma Hany at the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions in New York.

Aboelkheir was aggressive in all areas and was determined to leave no stone unturned as she looked to continue her run in New York. The world No.35 pulled away in the opener to take the game 11-5 and showed no signs of slowing down.

Hany, ranked 24 places higher, found her length in the second game and started to move her younger opponent into all four corners, but the teenager was more than up to the task and continued to impose herself on the match. After establishing a 2/0 lead, Aboelkheir claimed the third game 11-7 to move into her first quarter final at a Platinum event, where she will now face No.3 seed and fellow Egyptian Hania El Hammamy.

"I feel amazing to be honest. To do this here in New York in Grand Central Terminal is a dream come true." said Aboelkheir, the recently-crowned British Junior U19 Open champion.

"I've had a lot of time to think during my rest day. I was prepared and really wanted to win tonight. I was hungry for more. I made it to the last 16 but I wanted more. I'll enjoy my win tonight and go back and recover and starting from tomorrow, I'll prepare for the quarters. Hania beat me at the Grasshopper Cup so I want to get revenge for that."

The other seeding upset of the day came in the men's event when France's Victor Crouin claimed his revenge over No.7 seed Marwan Elshorbagy, who defeated him in last year's quarter final.

Crouin found himself 2/1 up in the clash but was pegged back to two-all by Elshorbagy, who needed to utilise all of his experience to stop the momentum of the Frenchman. The score reached 6-6 in the decider and it was Crouin who managed to pull ahead to 9-6 by using his movement to attack.

The world No.11 set himself up with three match balls at 10-7 and converted at the first time of asking to reach a second successive quarter final in New York.