Five-Set Epics and an Upset Thrill Bermuda Open Crowd
IslandStats.com
Squash fans at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Club were treated to another day of compelling action at the IQUW Bermuda Open Squash Championships. The second round delivered five thrilling matches that went the distance, requiring the full five sets to separate the players, and also produced one notable upset in the men's draw.
The Men's Division saw a captivating encounter between Egypt's Moustafa Elsirty and his compatriot, the sixth seed Omar Mosaad. In a gruelling 72-minute battle, Elsirty emerged victorious 3-2. The match saw momentum swing between the two Egyptians, with the scores reading 6-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9 in favour of Elsirty, who caused the first major upset of the tournament.
England's fifth seed, Nick Wall, endured a gruelling 60-minute battle against Columbia's Matias Knudsen, ultimately emerging victorious with a 3-2 scoreline. Wall started strongly, taking the first two games 11-5 and 11-9, putting himself in a commanding position. However, Knudsen demonstrated his resilience, fighting back to claim the next two games 8-11 and 5-11, forcing a decisive fifth set. In a tense final game, both players traded points fiercely, but Wall managed to regain the momentum and hold his nerve to clinch the victory 11-9.
The Women's Division also provided its fair share of drama, with three of the four matches extending to five sets. Second seed Hana Moataz of Egypt faced a stern test from Norway's Madeleine Hylland. After 49 minutes of intense rallies, Moataz managed to secure a 3-2 victory with the scoreline reading 10-12, 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-8.
Another Egyptian player, the fifth seed Nour Heikal, was pushed to her limit by Barbados' Margot Prow. Their 61-minute encounter saw both players battling fiercely, but Heikal ultimately prevailed 3-2 with scores of 11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 10-12, 11-5.
The final five-set thriller in the women's draw saw sixth seed Haya Ali, also from Egypt, take on India's Joshna Chinappa. In a hard-fought 56-minute match, Ali managed to edge out the win 3-2, with the scores finishing 11-8, 10-12, 5-11, 11-9, 11-8.
The second round's captivating matches have set the stage for an exciting quarter-final lineup, with upsets and tight battles highlighting the high level of competition on display at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association Club.
