Five Americans remain in Egypt following the PSA World Championships in Cairo last week to contest the the El Gouna Open second round Saturday, May 28.
Todd Harrity and Sabrina Sobhy both enjoyed first round victories against Spanish opposition Friday, May 27, and advance to Saturday’s second round. Sobhy handily dispatched Spain’s Christina Gomez in three games, while Harrity defeated Bernat Jaume for the first time in his career in four games.
Harrity and Sabrina Sobhy join world No. 4 Amanda Sobhy, world No. 10 Olivia Fiechter and world No. 23 Olivia Blatchford Clyne, who all enjoyed first round byes.
Amanda Sobhy will aim to back up her second career World Championship semifinal appearance last week by fulfilling her fourth seeding in El Gouna, and setting up a potential semifinal world championship rematch against world No. 1 Nouran Gohar. The draw could also see a world championship quarterfinal rematch against Nada Abbas in the third round, or a third round match up against her younger sister, Sabrina.
Fiechter has one more opportunity to bid for her first appearance in the PSA World Tour Finals next month. The American is in tenth place to qualify for the World Tour Finals, which involves the top eight performers across the season’s Platinum events, and a strong run in El Gouna could see Fiechter make her World Tour Finals debut in June. After a first round bye, Fiechter opens up her campaign against Egypt’s world No. 21 Nadine Shahine, and a potential third round match against five seed Joelle King.
Blatchford Clyne will bid to reach her first El Gouna third round in her fourth tournament appearance against either Australia’s Donna Lobban or Finland’s Emilia Soini.
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