Sharaf Claims First World-Event Victory In Squash On Fire Opener

Egypt's Mohamed Sharaf claimed his maiden Bronze-level victory in dramatic fashion in his first PSA Squash Tour World event match, upsetting higher-ranked compatriot Ibrahim Elkabbani on a scintillating day of first round action in the Squash On Fire Open in Washington DC.

The all-Egyptian contest saw constant changes in momentum. Elkabbani was the first to take advantage of the fast pace of the match, claiming a 1-0 lead before Sharaf quickly restored parity in the match with an 11-3 second-game win.

The world No.65 retook his lead, but underdog Sharaf - ranked over 40 places lower - was not to be dissuaded, and in a fourth and fifth game that saw plenty of traffic and referee intervention, the 23-year-old came back to claim his place in the second round.

"I'm so happy to get the win today," said Sharaf. "It's my first ever World event and to get my first win here against a very tough opponent [means a lot]. We've been very close friends since we were young and it was very tough mentally to play him but I'm happy that I got the win in five."

In a blockbuster five-game thriller, Ireland's Hannah Craig overcame world No.56 Saran Nghiem to reach the women's second round.

Nghiem, who is ranked eight places above her opponent, struck first, firing well placed cross-courts and tight straight drives to take a 1/0 lead in the match. Craig reacted and fought to an 11-9 win to level the score in the match.

A colossal 20-minute third game saw the two players inseparable into a tie-break. Both players had game balls, but after 18 total decisions in the game, it was Craig who came out on top to take the lead in what felt like a monumental moment in the match.

Nghiem came back in the fourth game to force a decisive fifth game, but Craig looked in command of fifth game throughout, controlling the tempo and forcing the Englishwoman around the court to win 3/2 and claim her place in her second Bronze-level round two.

Speaking after the match, the Irishwoman said: "I'm feeling happy. It was a really tough match, which I knew it was going to be, so I'm glad to get through on the other end there.

"I had to keep fighting. In the third game I was down a game ball, and I just said to myself, 'settle in, keep retrieving as best as I can', and I think getting through that one really gave me the confidence and the momentum to keep pushing.

"I think what's nice it going in with no pressure, nothing to lose. I think sometimes that's when I can really relax and settle through those moments and no that the pressures on them."

Elsewhere, Canada's Nicole Bunyan came through a five-setter to reach the second round, coming back twice to beat England's Kiera Marshall; England duo Charlie Lee and Alicia Mead won out in four games against Salah Eltorgman and wildcard Elisabeth Ross, respectively.

Ukraine's Alina Bushma recorded a 3/1 win over Egypt's Nour Heikal, and Germany's Saskia Beinhard defeated Poland's Karina Tyma, while the remaining eight matches saw straight-game victories.