US teenager Amanda Sobhy extended her record as one of the most successful youngsters in women’s squash by winning the Women’s New England Open in the USA – becoming the first 16-year-old to win four WISPA World Tour titles.
Fighting back from two games down in the climax of the $5,100 event at the Cross Courts Squash Club in Natick, Massachusetts, the top-seeded left-hander from New York beat 17-year-old US junior rival and fellow New Yorker Olivia Blatchford 5-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6.
It was only two weeks ago that Sobhy upset the top seed in the final of the Racquet Club International in St Louis to clinch her third Tour crown, thereby overtaking Malaysia’s reigning world number one Nicol David‘s two-title record established as a 16-year-old in July 2000.
When questioned after her historic success in Natick, the modest Sobhy said: “I am a bit lucky to have come back from 2/0 down to win 3/2.
“But I am definitely ecstatic to have won my fourth WISPA title, because these wins are something no one can take away me!
“I’ve been having such a great run from all these tournaments that I built up a lot of confidence – but I’m glad to be done now with tournaments so I can take a break and train.”
Sobhy, who is coached by her father Khaled Sobhy, celebrated a career-high world No39 ranking this month. And not until 29 June will the latest WISPA star celebrate her 17th birthday.
Final:
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [2] Olivia Blatchford (USA) 5-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6
Semi-finals:
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [3] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-7
[2] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [4] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) 11-5, 11-6, 11-5
Quarter-finals:
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [7] Karen Kronemeyer (NED) 11-4, 11-7, 9-11, 11-1
[3] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt Julianne Chu (USA) 11-4, 11-3, 11-4
[4] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) bt [Q] Hope Prockop (USA) 14-12, 11-6, 13-11
[2] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [Q] Larissa Stephenson (NZL) 11-7, 11-9, 11-9
1st round:
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt Nayelly Hernandez (MEX) 11-5, 11-5, 11-5
[7] Karen Kronemeyer (NED) bt [Q] Elpiniki Clement (USA) 11-6, 11-9, 11-9
[3] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt Zoya Khalid (PAK) w/o
Julianne Chu (USA) bt Fernanda Rocha (ARG) 11-9, 11-6, 11-5
[Q] Hope Prockop (USA) bt [6] Carrie Hastings (ENG) 14-12, 11-2, 14-12
[4] Thaisa Serafini (BRA) bt [Q] Cecelia Cortes (USA) 12-10, 11-1, 7-11, 14-12
[Q] Larissa Stephenson (NZL) bt [5] Belkys Magaly Velez (ECU) 11-3, 11-6, 11-4
[2] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt Catalina Pelaez (COL) 11-9, 11-7, 11-3