Team USA’s Amanda Sobhy marked her return to the PSA World Tour with a first round win at the Manchester Open, Thursday, September 17.
The PSA World Tour makes its return with the PSA Silver event as the six-month suspension of professional squash due to the global COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end. The tournament, originally scheduled for May 2020, is staged behind closed doors and following strict COVID-19 protocols to ensure the health and safety of all players and on-site staff in coordination with the Manchester City Council. Watch the event live on SquashTVand PSA World Tour Facebook live.
Sobhy, world No. 7, opened up her tournament by defeating Brooklyn-based Finn Emilia Soini 11-5, 11-2, 11-2 in twenty-three minutes.
“Very happy with how I played even though my first shot was a return of serve shank straight into the floor. It was so bad that I laughed and my opponent laughed as well. I think it was a great way to start, though, as it took the pressure off myself, and I don’t think I could have hit a worse shot than that,” Sobhy said.
“After that, I just played freely. I was happy with being back on court and playing. I have been working on a few changes that I have made over the last five weeks since I moved to Philadelphia. I just wanted to apply those changes more than really care about a win or being dominant. Really, I just focused on my own game and the shots I wanted to hit, and just being happy to be back on court. I was very happy with it, to get a win in the bag and to be back on tour competing.”
Sobhy will face Belgium’s Tinne Gilis in the second round Saturday, September 19 at 6am ET. Gilis advanced to the second round courtesy of a four-game win over Team USA’s Haley Mendez.
The younger Sobhy sister, Sabrina, faced a difficult first round test against world No. 3 and top seed Camille Serme. In their fourth career match up, Sobhy won her first game against the Frenchwoman, leveling the score at one all, but the 2020 Tournament of Champions winner pulled away to win the encounter 11-5, 8-11, 11-6, 11-6 in forty-two minutes.
For more Manchester Open coverage visit psaworldtour.com.