Team USA’s Olivia Weaver and Amanda Sobhy are in top form this week with both players reaching the Gillenmarkets British Open quarterfinals without dropping a game, and will now bid to reach the semifinals of the final major event of the PSA season Friday, June 6.
For Sobhy, the British Open marks the end of her “comeback season”, which began in August with her competitive return from a second achilles rupture sustained in December 2023.
Sobhy’s British Open run to her fifth career British Open quarterfinal went through a current and former college squash player. In the second round, Sobhy dispatched current Penn star Malak Khafagy to set up a round of sixteen match up against fellow Harvard graduate Hana Moataz. Sobhy fulfilled her eight seeding against Moataz with a 11-6, 11-8, 11-5 win in twenty-seven minutes.
“We both went to Harvard so I saw her do really well in college squash,” Sobhy said. “She’s beaten two really good players in five and you can’t underestimate anybody nowadays. The depth is so good.We’re at the tail end of ‘the comeback season’ and it’s been so much fun. When I ruptured my achilles in December 2023 a lot of people weren’t expecting me to come back. But here I am! It makes you appreciate everything a lot more when it’s taken away from you.”
Sobhy will have the chance to test her progress this season against the recently crowned world champion and world No. 2 Nour El Sherbini Friday at 12:30pm ET.
Weaver, the world No. 4 and three seed, has the opportunity to reach her first career British Open semifinal in her third career British Open quarterfinal. Weaver strung together 3-0 wins over Egypt’s world No. 28 Zeina Mickawy in the second round, and a close straight sets win over world No. 14 Fayrouz Abouelkheir in the round of sixteen 14-12, 11-9, 11-4.
“I’m very happy to get through that against a player like Fayrouz,” Weaver said after her third round match. “Those first two games were very tight and there were some real pivotal moments and I’m happy I was able to use my experience to get through them. This is one of the most iconic venues, and most prestigious events on our calendar. Playing on this stage in front of this crowd is very special.”
Weaver will take on Belgium’s world No. 4 Nele Gilis-Coll at 1:15pm ET, in what will be their third encounter of the season. Weaver won both of their previous matches at the Qatar Classic and Hong Kong Open last fall.
For more tournament coverage visit psaworldtour.com.