Former World No.4 Nele Gilis credited a newfound ‘hunger in my belly’ as the Belgian knocked out English No.8 seed Gina Kennedy in a brutal 89-minute clash to reach the last eight of the CIB Egyptian Open.
Elsewhere, World No.3 Hania El Hammamy, PSA Squash Tour champion Joel Makin and 2016 World Champion Karim Abdel Gawad hit back to avoid shock defeats in Giza.
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The CIB Egyptian Open, a Diamond-level event on the PSA Squash Tour, is taking place from 12-19 September, with an incredible all-glass court hosting matches in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza, alongside traditional courts at Club O West.
Gilis, who had slipped to World No.14 earlier this year following fitness and form issues, appears to have rediscovered her best squash in recent weeks, closing out last season with a run to the quarter-finals of the British Open before beginning this season by finishing runner up in both the European Championship and the London Classic.
Today’s match was an intensely physical encounter with Kennedy, though one that was played in the fairest of spirits and in which fierce competition was tallied with mutual respect on court.
Gilis, seeded at No.12 this week, made a great start to the match, winning game one 11-7 before Kennedy hit back 11-9 in game two. Games three and four were knife-edge encounters, with Gilis reclaiming the lead via a tie break only for Kennedy to do the same in a draining fourth game.
Both players are considered among the fittest in the game, but it was Gilis whose energy reserves ran deeper today, with the 29-year-old far sharper on court as she brought an-hour-and-a-half of pulsating squash to an end with an 11-5 win.
Afterwards, Gilis said: “I’m ecstatic to come away with a win, because that was brutal. I also just want to say that was actually a very enjoyable match. It’s very clean with Gina and we always have really great battles. There are barely any decisions and I’m proud of both of us for playing a match like that.
“Last season, I was putting so much pressure on myself and I felt like I was going into these tournaments trying to defend, defend, defend and it was just a very bad mindset and putting so much pressure on myself, whereas now I just go into these events and match by match, just wanting to win with that hunger in my belly and just trying to attack and trying to win instead of trying to defend. That was a big mindset change for me, and it’s helping me a lot.”
Facing Gilis in the next round is World No.3 El Hammamy, who struck back from a 0-2 deficit to take out Egyptian compatriot Salma Hany.
Hany, without a win in her last three matches v El Hammamy, made a perfect start tonight, stunning the No.3 seed as she took the opener 11-9 and then held her nerve after seeing a six-point lead evaporate to take game two 12-10.
El Hammamy, who has not played a PSA match since her runner-up finish in the PSA World Championship in May, finally found her best form in game three, storming through 11-3.
Hany had required physio treatment with the scores at 8-1 in game three, and looked like she was continuing to struggle in subsequent games, with El Hammamy completing the comeback with dominant 11-1, 11-4 victories.
“I want to forget the first two games,” El Hammamy admitted afterwards. “I’ve had a long break since the World Champs, so today was a test for me. Playing against someone as talented as Salma doesn’t make it easy.”
“Nele had a great match against Gina, and I’m really happy to see her back performing well. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a quality match together. She’s been through a lot and she didn’t play her best squash last season. I’m sure it’s going to be a great match.”
In the men’s draw, Makin and Gawad also mounted impressive comebacks.
On the show court by the pyramids, Makin fought his way past reigning junior World Champion Mohamad Zakaria, grinding out an 85-minute 3-1 win after Zakaria had taken the opener.
World No.1 Gawad, meanwhile, battled through an all-Egyptian encounter with rising star Kareem El Torkey, with Gawad hitting back to win in five games after trailing 1-2.
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Round three of the CIB Egyptian Open concludes tomorrow. Play on the show court at the Great Pyramid of Giza begins at 19.00 (GMT+3), while play on the traditional courts at Club O West will begin at 13.00.
