World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy narrowly avoided a shock first round exit at the 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open as he came from 2-1 down, saving multiple match balls, to defeat Mexican qualifier Cesar Salazar during an opening day of action at Philadelphia’s Drexel University that saw the Men’s draw blown wide open.
ElShorbagy, who won the tournament in 2014 to go top of the World Rankings for the first time in his career, struggled to contain an inspired Salazar during their 77 minute battle but managed to do just enough in the end to escape the clutches of defat and avoid joining World No.3 Omar Mosaad and number seven seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez in exiting the event at the first hurdle, as they fell at the hands of former World No.1 James Willstrop and Malaysian qualifier Nafiizwan Adnan, respectively.
“Being World No.1 isn’t always about playing the best, but about finding the way to win,” said ElShorbagy.
“In the past two seasons I have played more matches than anyone else and lately things have been going wrong with my body. I’ve had stomach problems and fevers and been struggling.
“Today I fought and fought. I won - that’s what matters - and I’ll keep fighting until the end. I’m really happy to come through - finding the way to win is the most important thing and I know that I’ll definitely be better next round after that match.”
32-year-old Englishman Willstrop evoked memories of the form that took him to the top of the World Rankings in 2012 as he produced a virtuoso display of complete control to knock out 2015 runner-up Mosaad in straight games.
Willstrop, currently ranked No.19 in the world after slowly working his way back from a serious hip operation in 2014, rekindled his form during last week’s NetSuite Open when he reached a first high profile tournament final since that surgery and he picked up where he left off as he controlled the ball and lived up to his ‘Marksman’ moniker to put Mosaad to the sword.
“I’m feeling good,” said Willstrop. “But it’s been a long time since I’ve put together a tournament winning, or latter stages, run.
“Last week in San Francisco was good but doing it at a World Series event is even tougher. I’m feeling good and if I can keep the intensity then you never know what could happen.
“The enjoyment is there for me and there’s a freshness about how I feel which is pleasing.”
Willstrop will now face Mohamed Abouelghar in the second round of a draw that is now wide open after Miguel Angel Rodriguez’s shock first round defeat to Adnan - the 30-year-old Malaysian qualifier who came through in straight-games to reach the second round of a PSA World Series tournament for only the third time in his career.
“I’m really, really happy,” said Adnan. “I almost lost to Charles Sharpes in the first round of qualification when I was 0-2 down. I told myself just to play - that I had nothing to lose - and relax. That worked and I tried to do the same today, and it is really pleasing to win - it’s a big win for me.”
Elsewhere in the Men’s draw there was a impressive win for Peruvian qualifier Diego Elias as he downed Frenchman Gregoire Marche while England’s Chris Simpson came through against Egyptian Karim Ali Fathi.
It was more straightforward for the top seeds in the Women’s draw as World No.1 Nour El Sherbini, three-time US Open champion Nicol David and World No.5 Raneem El Welily all set down impressive markers to stroll into the second round.
After returning to form at last month’s Al Ahram Open, where she claimed the honours with victory over El Sherbini in the decider, El Welily continued to impress as she saw off Belgian qualifier Nele Gilis courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 win .
“I’m always happy to be back in the US Open - I always enjoy coming back here,” said El Welily.
“Looking back at Al Ahram really makes me smile but it is in the past now. I want to make a strong push now and carry on that ki
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