Team USA’s Timmy Brownell became the first American man to reach the quarterfinals of a PSA Platinum event–following Mohamed ElShorbagy’s withdrawal–while Olivia Weaver advanced to her second career British Open quarterfinal, June 3-5, in Birmingham, England.
Brownell, who currently holds a career high ranking of world No. 36, reached his second Platinum third round of the season with two 3-0 wins over former and current top twenty ranked players. Brownell opened up his tournament by defeating Mexico’s former world No. 17 Cesar Salazar 12-10, 11-9, 11-4 in thirty-four minutes. Brownell then avenged his Hong Kong Open loss against France’s world No. 19 Baptiste Masotti 11-9, 11-9, 11-4 in thirty-four minutes.
Brownell’s historic milestone for Team USA came at the expense of England’s world No. 7 Mohamed ElShorbagy, who was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to illness.
The American will take on Egypt’s world No. 4 Mostafa Asal for the first time in his career on the glass court Friday, June 7, at 3:15pm ET.
Weaver set up a rematch of her recent PSA World Championship semifinal loss against Egypt’s world No. 1 Nour El Sherbini. Weaver opened up her tournament with two 3-0 wins to reach the third round where she met U.S. teammate Sabrina Sobhy, who marked her fifth consecutive appearance in the British Open third round.
Weaver overcame Sobhy in a close five-game encounter 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 11-3, 11-6 in fifty-one minutes to advance to her second British Open quarterfinal.
Weaver and El Sherbini will play Thursday, June 6 at 2:30pm ET.
Watch all of the British Open action live on squash.tv.