Amanda Sobhy will face world No. 1 Nour El Sherbini in the second round of the 2018 El Gouna International Sunday in Egypt, following a first-round victory Friday.
Sobhy, world No. 23, took out Wales’ world No. 12 Tesni Evans in a first round upset, advancing in four games 11-3, 9-11, 11-5, 11-6 in thirty-one minutes. The victory extended the Harvard graduate’s unbeaten record against Evans to 7-0.
“I’m happy to be here, the weather’s good which I appreciate so much more than in the States,” Sobhy said. “I’m happy to play, I’m enjoying it and there is really no pressure, it’s nice being the underdog again. There aren’t many expectations for me apart from keeping improving, getting fitter and enjoying my squash, so I’m happy I did that on the day.”
El Sherbini sealed her passage to the second round with a three-game victory against England’s Emily Whitlock. Sobhy’s encounter with El Sherbini is their first since December 2016, and first since Sobhy’s return from an achilles injury that kept her off the squash court for nine months last year.
“I’ve not played Amanda since she has come back from her injury and it seems like she’s playing well and getting her form back,” El Sherbini said. “Mentally and physically she’s getting better, I’m excited for the match and let’s see how it goes.”
Watch the match live on SquashTV Sunday, April 22, at 6:30pm local time, 12:30pm EDT.
Sobhy is the lone American left in the draw after world No. 13 Olivia Blatchford fell in a five-game match against Egypt’s Hania El Hammamy on Saturday.