Stunning Fightback Sees Sivasangari Into ToC Quarters

Sivasangari Subramaniam roared back from 2/0 down against USA's Amanda Sobhy to earn her first-ever quarter-final appearance at the Sprott Tournament of Champions presented by Crowd Street at Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

Sobhy, who last got the better of Sivasangari in round one 12 months ago, charged into the lead in front of her home crowd - and was one game away from reaching the New York last eight for the first time in three years.

But those hopes were dashed by the Malaysian as the momentum swung in Sivasangari's favour, with the world No.6 dominating the rallies and finding her range as she prevailed by a 6-11, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-4 scoreline to progress to her milestone quarter-final.

"I feel proud with how I fought today," said Sivasangari.

"I was 2/0 down and even in the third I was down. I tried to fight each point and try not to give it up easily. I tried to hang in there and even if I lost the match I wanted to try and fight as much as I can, stay on that court as long as I can and I think by doing that I managed to sneak the third.

"Even the fourth was close and even if I was leading it was close. I know Amanda is feeling it as I'm feeling it too and I was trying to hide it better. I'm happy to be through."

Sivasangari's quarter-final opponent will be US No.1 Olivia Weaver, who eased to a 3/0 win over her compatriot Marina Stefanoni. Elsewhere, Egyptian pair Amina Orfi and Fayrouz Aboelkheir also progressed in straight games having seen off Nele Gilis and Lucy Beecroft, respectively.

Mohamed ElShorbagy staged a dramatic comeback of his own to book his place in the last eight, recovering from 2/0 down to see off Eain Yow Ng in five games.

ElShorbagy, a three-time champion in New York, went top of the list for the most wins on the PSA Squash Tour in the modern game on Friday following his round one victory against Juan Vargas, taking him to 588 victories.

Win number 589 looked to be on hold when Ng took a two-game lead, with the Malaysian hunting his first Tour triumph against ElShorbagy.

In a physical tussle with numerous long rallies throughout their 81-minute epic, ElShorbagy kept his composure to overturn a 2/0 deficit for the sixth time in his storied career, completing a 4-11, 13-15, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7 victory to secure a place in the last eight.

"I can't remember the last time I was 2/0 down. As you get older, the amount of times you win matches like this doesn't happen often. To win a match like that in Grand Central, I'm so proud of that performance and I'm excited to be back on court again in two days," he said afterwards.

"In the second game I was playing really well. It was such a high quality second game and could have gone either way, but when I was 2/0 down I felt I was playing better but it was a question of physicality and if I could come back in that match or not.

"Because we've been training partners for so many years, and we both know where the ball is going, to have him hurting me physically in the same way other players would have hurt me physically, I felt I could keep going and keep pushing. I felt it was going to be really tactical today and I saw it as a challenge.

"After I lost the second game, I thought there's no way I can come back but I thought why not challenge yourself and do something you haven't done in a while. I'm so, so happy."

ElShorbagy will meet Diego Elias in the quarter finals after the Peruvian downed Greg Lobban 3/0, while Victor Crouin and Paul Coll also registered straight game victories over Iker Pajares and Bernat Jaume, respectively.