Team USA’s Amanda Sobhy upset world No. 1 Nouran Gohar–her first win over the Egyptian in her last ten attempts–to reach the inaugural women’s Qatar Classic semifinals Wednesday, September 13, in Doha.
The Connecticut-based Gohar had defeated the American world No. 5 in all nine of their previous encounters since 2019, and appeared on track for a tenth early on with four game balls up 10-6 in the first game. Sobhy saved all four game balls and rattled off six straight points to take the first game 12-10.
Sobhy held on to the momentum in the second game, edging Gohar 11-9 and powered through the third game to complete the shock win 11-1 after thirty-two minutes.
Sobhy avenges her recent Paris Open semifinal loss against Gohar as she moves on to her second straight Platinum quarterfinal.
“I’m not afraid anymore,” Sobhy said. “I want to play her because it gives me that much more confidence going in against her. I was excited to know that I was going to face again here in Qatar after last week in Paris.”
Sobhy will now face Egypt’s world No. 3 Hania El Hammamy Thursday, September 14, at 4pm local time, 9am ET.
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