Throwback: Story of the 2016 Men’s Hong Kong Open

 
The Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open begins on November 14, when the world’s best players battle it out for more crucial points on the PSA World Series Standings.
Join us as we take a look back at the story of the 2016 Men’s Hong Kong Open.
Results – Round One
James Willstrop (ENG) bt Tom Richards (ENG) 3-1: 15-13, 11-5, 9-11, 11-4 (61m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [Q] Omar Abdel Meguid (EGY) 3-0: 12-10, 11-7, 11-2 (55m)
Mazen Hesham (EGY) bt [Q] Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 (45m)
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Borja Golan (ESP) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-9 (29m)
[8] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 3-0: 16-14, 11-9, 11-9 (49m)
[WC] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) bt [3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 3-2: 13-11, 10-12, 2-11, 11-3, 11-6 (69m)
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 3-1: 11-8, 12-10, 7-11, 11-8 (40m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt Leo Au (HKG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 (35m)
[5] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Zahed Mohamed (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 (57m)
Simon Rösner (GER) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 3-0: 12-10, 11-4, 11-2 (38m)
[7] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [Q] Raphael Kandra (GER) 3-1: 11-9, 11-5, 10-12, 11-7 (53m)
Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (35m)
[4] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-2: 11-3, 11-8, 6-11, 9-11, 11-7 (50m)
Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 12-10 (47m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt [Q] Joe Lee (ENG) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-7 (36m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-0: 11-7, 11-4, 11-4 (40m)
A virtuoso display from tournament wildcard Tsz Fung Yip stole the headlines on day one of the Hong Kong Open.
Yip managed to stun then-World No.5 and tournament number three seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez as he came from 2-1 down in an enthralling first round encounter as he played with composure and control to see off the Colombian in a testing five-game encounter.
Meanwhile, maverick Egyptian Ramy Ashour marked his return to the PSA World Tour in style with an entertaining encounter against Indian number one Saurav Ghosal. Whilst other top seeds Gregory Gaultier, Mohamed ElShorbagy and Marwan ElShorbagy also came through.
Results – Round Two
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Mazen Hesham (EGY) 3-1: 11-5, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7 (53m)
Simon Rösner (GER) bt [5] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 3-1: 11-6, 11-8, 10-12, 11-4 (64m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt [WC] Tsz Fung Yip (HKG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-9, 11-4 (45m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt [8] Tarek Momen (EGY) 3-1: 5-11, 12-10, 11-3, 11-7 (59m)
Cameron Pilley (AUS) bt [1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9 (91m)
Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [4] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) 3-2: 9-11, 13-15, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 (81m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt [7] Ali Farag (EGY) 3-1: 11-8, 7-11, 13-11, 11-9 (55m)
Fares Dessouky (EGY) bt [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 3-2: 6-11, 15-13, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10 (83m)
There were shocks aplenty during round two as then-World Champion Gregory Gaultier and then-World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy crashed out.
In a repeat of last year’s title decider ElShorbagy – who claimed the trophy in both 2014 and 2015 – went up against hard-hitting Australian Cameron Pilley but it was the latter who enthralled the crowd, saving match ball in the fourth game before sealing an impressive 11-9, 8-11, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9 victory after a punishing 91 minutes of action.
Whilst, Fares Dessouky pulled off a huge upset against Gaultier, coming from 2-1 down to knock the Frenchman out of a PSA World Series event at the second stage for the first time since 2009.
Results – Quarter-Finals
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 3-1: 11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 11-7 (52m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) bt James Willstrop (ENG) 3-1: 11-9, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 (74m)
Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Simon Rösner (GER) 3-1: 12-10, 7-11, 11-4, 11-9 (52m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt Fares Dessouky (EGY) 3-1: 11-6, 8-11, 11-9, 11-8 (64m)
Hong Kong’s Max Lee sent the home crowd wild in the quarter-finals as he delivered a masterclass performance to defeat Egypt’s Dessouky to book a semi-final berth – becoming the first male home player in over 30 years to reach the last four of the PSA World Series event.
Meanwhile, Ashour saw off the challenge of German Simon Rösner 3-1, while Australia’s Ryan Cuskelly also pulled off an equally impressive performance to defeat former World No.1 James Willstrop in 74 minutes.
Results – Semi-Finals
[6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) bt Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) 3-1: 11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 12-10 (61m)
Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Max Lee (HKG) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-6 (39m)
Ashour was able to halt the impressive run of home hope Lee in the semi-finals of the 2016 Hong Kong Open.
The Egyptian played his unique blend of squash to come through in straight games.
Elsewhere, Karim Abdel Gawad booked his place in his first PSA World Series tournament final after he downed Australia’s Cuskelly 11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 12-10.
Result – Final
Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [6] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6 (75m)
Ashour looked to have put his recent injury demons to bed as he came through a highly competitive and entertaining five-game battle with compatriot Gawad.
Two-time winner of the tournament, Ashour, looked to be back to his unpredictable best during the 11-9, 8-11, 11-6, 5-11, 11-6 win that saw him string together some spell-binding runs.
“It feels great to win here and winning the title means so much to me,” said Ashour.
“I played a very tough opponent. Karim’s very smart and fluid on court so it is not easy to beat him and he’s actually one of my favourite players on Tour. It was a collaboration of ideas to get past him but I thought it was a great show and I think we both enjoyed it.
“It’s been a tough journey for me to get here but I’ve always wanted it so much. I feel empty without squash – playing fulfils everything inside me. I appreciate being able to play and to lunge without pain is such a blessing – I’ll do whatever it takes to keep being the best I can be.”