Team USA’s Amanda Sobhy underwent a successful surgery to repair her torn Achilles on Friday, March 17.
The world No. 6 sustained the injury in the semifinals of the 70k Ciudad de Floridablanca in Colombia against U.S. teammate Olivia Blatchford on Friday, March 11. Sobhy led Blatchford 11-1, 11-6, 10-5 when the twenty-three-year old collapsed.
“I felt like Olivia had smacked me in the back of my leg with her racquet,” Sobhy said. “I asked her ‘did you hit me?’ When she said no, I knew right away I had snapped my Achilles. I was just in complete shock.”
Dr. Charles Goodwin at the Hospital For Special Surgery performed the ninety-minute surgery and called it a complete success.
“Everything was great,” Dr. Goodwin said. “Amanda has an excellent tendon that was good and strong.”
Sobhy, a Sea Cliff, New York-native, was scheduled to play in the Allam British Open this week, the 2016 season World Championships in El Gouna, Egypt in April, and the World Series Finals in Dubai in June.
“It’s nice to finally begin the recovery process,” Sobhy said. “It’s going to be a long road ahead, but I’m determined more than ever to come back stronger to the PSA Tour.”
Sobhy will be off her foot for the next five weeks, in a cast and on crutches, before being put in a walking boot. She will then begin extensive physical therapy with the goal to be back on court this fall and making her tournament comeback at the 2017 World Championships in Manchester, England, in December and the 2018 J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions in January.
“It’s tough. It’s a massive setback, ” said Sobhy, the highest ever ranked American-born squash player. “But I’m only 23 and I have my whole career ahead of me. I can use this time to make sure that I build up my body.”
“This is not going to stop me from accomplishing my goals and dreams,” Sobhy said. “This is only going to make me stronger and more determined.”
