"I had really tough hard-fought match yesterday against Nicolas Mueller and today was another really tough match," said Daryl Selby (pic: Steve Cubbins). Daryl Selby (le) was the star of an English quartet which marched into the quarter-finals of the 2015 El Gouna International. Selby, ranked 15 in the World, showed incredible fighting spirit and desire to get the better of World No.5 Miguel Angel Rodriguez (ri) in 5 thrilling games (11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-4).
“I’ve been playing better and better recently and I’m proving to myself that I still have what it takes and that I can still play at the very top level so today was very pleasing and I’m looking forward to coming back tomorrow,” said Selby, who joins Peter Barker, Nick Matthew and James Willstrop to cap a successful day for English hopes.
Second seed Gaultier eased past Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawad to book his place in the quarters while the Egyptian trio of defending champion Ramy Ashour, World No.1 Mohamed Elshorbagy and World No.9 Omar Mosaad ensured that the home fans will have plenty to cheer in the quarter-finals.
Ashour, who has missed the last four months through injury, was forced to come from a game down against talented compatriot Fares Dessouki in order to keep his hopes of retaining the title alive.
“I was expecting him to come out fighting and I knew it would be tough,” said world champion Ashour.
2nd round:
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 8-11, 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 (45m)
[8] Peter Barker (ENG) bt Max Lee (HKG) 11-2, 15-13, 11-5 (46m)
Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt Saurav Ghosal (IND) 11-4, 11-3, 9-11, 11-8 (64m)
[3] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 (62m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Fares Dessouki (EGY) 6-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 (59m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt Chris Simpson (ENG) 11-8, 6-11, 11-6, 11-6 (61m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-8, 9-11, 11-13, 11-9, 11-4 (105m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 (44m)
