Team USA’s Amanda and Sabrina Sobhy are through to the quarterfinals of the $110,000 MARIGOLD Singapore Open following second round wins, November 15-16, at the OCBC Arena.
Amanda, world No. 4, opened up her campaign as the tournament’s top seed with a 3-0 win Tuesday over Egypt’s world No. 22 Nadine Shahin 11-13, 12-10, 11-7 in twenty-five-minutes.
“It was a bit scrappy, I didn’t get the chance to hit on the glass yesterday so it took a little bit of time to get used to it and to the conditions,” Sobhy said. “She doesn’t make it easier, her game is not the most structured so I am just happy to win in three, and to close it out on the big points where it mattered. I am just trying to work on new things with my game and to try and implement them in my matches. Regardless of what happens, hopefully I can see the improvements over time and keep projecting forward, which is what I want to do. I am just taking it one match at a time!”
Amanda will now face Belgium’s world No. 14 Nele Gilis in the tournament’s first quarterfinal at 12pm local time, 11pm ET on Thursday night, November 17. Gilis downed Team USA’s world No. 11 Olivia Fiechter in a four-game second round upset.
Sabrina began her tournament with a narrow 3-0 first-round win over Penn grad Melissa Alves to set up a second round match up against former Harvard teammate and world No. 9 Georgina Kennedy on Wednesday. After Sobhy edged a close first game 11-8, Kennedy began to struggle with her fitness as Sobhy pushed on to win 11-8, 11-4, 11-4 in twenty-three minutes.
“Gina is one of my best friends on tour, she has been so inspiring, we played in college together and I’ve seen her rise up throughout the rankings beating top players and knowing that she has been my teammate and friend for so many years, she’s a huge inspiration,” Sobhy said. “I knew it would be a tough one, obviously Gina is hurting physically, and I only wish her the best to get back on tour, the tour needs her. She’s such a strong presence and without her, it feels a little empty so this was not a great feeling of a win. Obviously, I’m pleased to win but you never want to win when someone is injured so I feel for her.”
Sabrina will face Kennedy’s England teammate and four seed Sarah-Jane Perry at 6:45pm local time, 5:45am ET, in what will be their first PSA match up of the season.
“I feel good, I didn’t anticipate this,” Sabrina admitted. “I was due to fly out tomorrow so I’ll have to change this. I’ve been away for over a month now and I’ve been battling this feeling of wanting to go home but also wanting to compete and play my best squash, so I guess I’m sticking around for at least another day.”