What to Look for in Today’s Matches by Matt Lombardi

Noon: Fares Dessouky (Egypt, age 24, rank 475) vs. Mathieu Castagnet (France, age 32, rank 27). A knee injury kept Dessouky sidelined from November 2017 until last week’s CCI International in Mumbai, where he made an impressive return, reaching the final. (The time away explains his ranking.) He’s one of the most athletic and consistent of the young Egyptians, but Castagnet displays similar virtues. The Frenchman proved his grit in a contentious five-game first-round win yesterday.

1:00: Max Lee (Hong Kong, age 31, rank 13) vs. Cesar Salazar (Mexico, age 31, rank 30). They come from opposite sides of the globe, but Lee and Salazar are both light, nimble players who excel at extending rallies. Their last meeting was a five-game nail-biter at last year’s U.S. Open, with Salazar coming away the winner.

2:00: Eain Yow Ng (Malaysia, age 20, rank 40) vs. Zahed Salem (Egypt, age 26, rank 25). The diminutive Ng was the 2016 world junior champion, and since then he’s used his quickness to gradually climb the rankings. Salem outweighs the Malaysian by 50 pounds. While his game isn’t strictly about power, this match is likely to come down to a contest of strength versus speed.

3:00: Cameron Pilley (Australia, age 36, rank 29) vs. Tom Richards (England, age 32, rank 20). These veterans get down to business: they both play at a fast pace and usually go for winners at the first opportunity. Expect the high-risk, high-reward style to produce quick, sometimes spectacular points.

5:00: Karim Abdel Gawad (Egypt, age 27, rank 5) vs. Joel Makin (Wales, age 24, rank 23). Gawad, the 2017 ToC champion, was in great form at December’s Black Ball Open, beating the no. 1, 2, and 4 players in the world to take the title. Makin is a strong-willed battler who gave Gawad a challenge in last year’s ToC, but he’s again the underdog against one of the game’s most gifted shot-makers.

6:00: Simon Rosner (Germany, age 31, rank 3) vs. Ryan Cuskelly (Australia, age 31, rank 14). These two made headlines at the 2018 ToC, Cuskelly by taking out world no. 1 Mohamed ElShorbagy, Rosner by winning the title. They both have distinctive styles: Cuskelly bounds around the court like a kangaroo and strikes the ball with a sharply cocked wrist. Rosner’s powerful upright swing has earned him the nickname the Tree Chopper, but he’s also deceptively nimble at the front of the court.

7:30: Mohamed ElShorbagy (Egypt, age 28, rank 1) vs. Nicolas Mueller (Switzerland, age 29, rank 18). ElShorbagy has occupied the no. 1 ranking longer than any other Egyptian in squash history. He’s done it with a deadly combination of power and precision, and an ability to raise his game on crucial points. Mueller also likes to play at a fast pace; when he’s on, he can give the world champion a fight. Two of their four PSA meetings have gone to five games, with ElShorbagy winning each time.

8:30: Marwan ElShorbagy (Egypt, age 25, rank 8) vs. Diego Elias (Peru, age 22, rank 11). The wily younger ElShorbagy is returning from a hamstring injury that’s kept him out for most of the 2018-19 season. He’ll face a tough test against Elias, who’s a silky mover and a master at varying the pace. If ElShorbagy is at full force, the last match of the night could be the best.

ThursdayJANUARY 17, 2019

NOON SESSIONFares Dessouky (EGY) vs. Mathieu Castagnet (FRA)Cesar Salazar (MEX) vs. Max Lee (HKG)

2 PM SESSIONEain Yow Ng (MAS) vs. Zahed Salem (EGY)Cameron Pilley (AUS) vs. Tom Richards (ENG)

5 PM SESSION[8] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) vs. Joel Makin (WAL)[3] Simon Roesner (GER) vs. Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)

7:30 PM SESSION[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) vs. Nicolas Mueller (SUI)[5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) vs. Diego Elias (PER)

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‘Wild Wednesday’ lives up to its name as Castagnet

fights through two-hour tournament opener and

Team USA’s Harrity becomes the home hero

Fri. 1/18 – 4:45pm HC: Sat.1/19 – 5:00pm GCT:

Ho Tze-Lok (HKG) [1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) Mariam Metwally (EGY) Fri. 1/18 – 5:30pm HC: Sat. 1/19 – 1:45pm HC: Mon. 1/21 12:30pm Coline Aumard (FRA) Tinne Gilis (BEL) [14] Joshna Chinappa (IND) Fri. 1/18 – 2:15pm HC: Sat. 1/19 – 12:15pm HC: Tue. Jan. 22 Satomi Watanabe (JAP) [10] Annie Au (HKG) 1:30pm Joey Chan (HKG) Fri. 1/18 – 12:45pm HC: Sat. 1/20 – 2:00pm GCT: Mon. 1/21 11:45am Mayar Hany (EGY) Low Wee Wern (MAS) [6] Nouran Gohar (EGY) Fri. 1/18 – 12:00pm HC: Sat. 1/19 – 2:00pm GCT: Wed. Jan. 23 Haley Mendez (USA) [5] Camille Serme (FRA) 5:00pm Milou v. der Heijden (NED) Fri. 1/18 – 1:30pm HC: Sat. 1/19 – 1:00pm HC: Mon. 1/21 11:00am Rachael Grinham (AUS) Liu Tsz-Ling (HKG) [13] Victoria Lust (ENG) Fri. 1/18 – 7:00pm HC: Sat. 1/19 – 9:00pm GCT: Tue. Jan. 22 Alexandra Fuller (RSA) [11] Nicol David (MAS) 2:15pm Rowan Elaraby (EGY) Sat. 1/20 – 12:15pm HC: Sat 1/19 – 7:30pm GCT: Mon. 1/21 2:30pm Zeina Mickawy (EGY) Marina Stefanoni (USA) [4] Joelle King (NZL) Thurs. Jan. 24

Fri. 1/18 – 4:45pm PC: Sun. 1/20 – 9:00 GCT: 7:00pm Nada Abbas (EGY) [3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) Nadine Shahin (EGY) Fri. 1/18 – 5:30pm PC: Sun. 1/20 – 7:30pm GCT: Mon. 1/21 3:15pm Samantha Cornett (CAN) Danielle Letourneau (CAN) [10] Amanda Sobhy (USA) Fri. 1/18 – 6:15pm PC: Sun. 1/20 – 1:00pm HC: Tue. Jan. 22 Hollie Naughton (CAN) [9] Alison Waters (ENG) 5:00pm Emily Whitlock (ENG) Fri. 1/18 – 7:00pm PC: Sun. 1/20 – 2:45pm GCT: Mon. 1/21 5:00pm Millie Tomlinson (ENG) A. Landers-Murphy (NZL) [8] Tesni Evans (WAL) Fri. 1/20– 12:15pm NYAC: Sun. 1/20 – 12:00pm GCT: Wed. Jan. 23 Julianne Courtice (ENG) [7] Laura Massaro (ENG) 6:00pm Yathreb Adel (IND) Fri. 1/18 – 5:30pm NYAC: Sun. 1/20 – 12:15pm HC: Mon. 1/21 6:00pm Fiona Moverley (ENG) S. Subramaniam (MAS) [15] Salma Hany (EGY) Fri. 1/18 – 6:15pm NYAC: Sun. 1/20 – 1:45pm HC: Tue. Jan.22 Tsz-Wing Tong (HKG) [16] Olivia Blatchford Clyne 7:30pm Nele Gilis (BEL) Fri. 1/18 – 7:00pm NYAC: Sun. 1/20- 8:15pm GCT: Mon. 1/21 7:30pm Hania El Hammamy (EGY) Emilia Soini (FIN) [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY)

WOMENMEN

Wed. 1/16 – 4:15pm: Thurs. 1/17 - 7:30pm:

Mazen Hesham (EGY) [1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY)

Nicolas Mueller (SUI) Mueller 11,5,8 Wed. 1/16 – 4:30pm HC: Thurs. 1/17 – 2:00pm: Sat. 1/19 8:15pm

Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi (QAT) Eain 8,8,3 Eain Yow Ng (MAS) Salem (8),3,8,7

Wed. 1/16 – 6:15pm HC: Thurs. 1/17 – 3:00pm:

Mon Jan. 21

Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) Pilley 10,9,6

5:45pm

Zahed Salem (EGY) Richards (7),9,9,4 Wed. 1/16 – 3:30pm: Thurs. 1/17 – 8:30pm: Sat. 1/19 2:45pm Cameron Pilley (AUS) Diego Elias (PER)

Nathan Lake (ENG) [5] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY)

Wed. 1/16 – 4:00pm HC: Thurs. 1/17 – 5:00pm:

Wed. Jan. 23

Ben Coleman (ENG) [8] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)

8:00pm

Tom Richards (ENG) Makin 3,2,(8),10

Wed. 1/16 – 12:45pm: Thurs. 1/17 - 12:00pm: Sat. 1/19 12:45pm Joshua Masters (ENG) Fares Dessouky (EGY Joel Makin (WAL) Castagnet (9),13,10,(6),10

Wed. 1/16 – 12:00pm: Thurs. 1/17 - 1:00pm:

Mon Jan. 21

George Parker (ENG) Salazar 8,9,9

8:15pm

Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) Max Lee (HKG)

Wed. 1/16 – 4:45pm HC: Thurs. 1/17 - 6:00pm: Sat. 1/19 5:45pm

Cesar Salazar (MEX) Ryan Cuskelly (AUS)

Alan Clyne (SCO) [3] Simon Rosner (GER)

Thurs. Jan. 24

Wed. 1/16 – 1:30pm: Fri. 1/18 - 6:00pm:

7:45pm

Raphael Kandra (GER) [4] Tarek Momen (EGY)

Gregoire Marche (FRA) Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY)

Wed. 1/16 – 7:00pm NYAC: Fri. 1/18 – 1:00pm: Sun. 1/20 5:00pm

Lucas Serme (FRA) Marche (10),5,9,4

Declan James (ENG) Serme 9,(5),(4),11,3

Wed. 1/16 – 4:45pm NYAC: Fri. 1/18 – 12:00pm:

Tue. Jan. 22

Greg Lobban (SCO) Lobban 3,7,(9),6

5:45pm

Arturo Salazar (MEX) Simpson 4,4,(4),9 Wed. 1/16 – 6:15pm NYAC: Fri. 1/18 – 5:00pm: Sun. 1/20 2:00pm Chris Simpson (ENG) Mosaad 8,10,8

Borja Golan (ESP) [6] Miguel Rodriquez (COL)

Wed. 1/16 – 4:30pm: Fri. 1/18 – 2:00pm:

Wed. Jan. 23

Omar Mosaad (EGY) [7] Paul Coll (NZL)

8:45pm

Chris Hanson (USA) Harrity (6),7,10,7

Wed. 1/16 – 8:00pm: Fri. 1/18 - 3:00pm: Sun. 1/20 12:45pm Todd Harrity (USA) Saurav Ghosal (IND) Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) Grayson 6,8,(9),(4),5

Wed. 1/16 – 5:30pm NYAC: Fri. 1/18 – 8:30pm:

Tue. Jan.22

Campbell Grayson (NZL) Daryl Selby (ENG)

8:15pm

Leo Au (HKG) Soliman (6),6,5,10 Wed. 1/16 – 5:15pm: Fri. 1/18 - 7:30pm: Sun. 1/20 5:45pm Timmy Brownell (USA) James Willstrop (ENG)

Youssef Soliman (EGY) [2] Ali Farag (EGY)