“This is one of the biggest tournaments on the circuit and the first event of 2016 so to start by beating a player of Miguel’s ability is a good confidence boost for me,” said Borja Golan. On the opening day of action at the 2016 Men’s J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions staged in the iconic setting of New York’s Grand Central Terminal it was Spaniard and World No19 Borja Golan (le) who made the headlines as he downs crowd-favourite and World No5 Miguel Angel Rodriguez (ri) 11-6, 11-6, 11-5. “I’m really happy to win today,” said Golan.
In the opening match Australian Cameron Pilley, who just made his maiden World Series final in Hong Kong last December, continued his recent resurgence with a comfortable straight-games victory (11-4, 11-3, 11-3) over Egyptian Tarek Momen. I finished 2015 in some of the best form of my career and with three of the biggest wins I’ve ever had,” said the 33-year-old.
Further results: J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions – Men’s First Round (Top Half)
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt [Q] Adrian Waller (ENG) 3-0: 11-5, 11-8, 11-2 (30m)
Nicolas Mueller (SUI) bt [Q] Raphael Kandra (GER) 3-1: 11-6, 8-11, 11-5, 11-1 (45m)
[5] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Lucas Serme (FRA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 (52m)
[7] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt Stephen Coppinger (RSA) 3-1: 7-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-6 (59m)
Max Lee (HKG) bt [Q] Farhan Zaman (PAK) 3-1: 9-11, 11-6, 11-4, 11-9 (43m)
Leo Au (HKG) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-7 (55m)
Draw: Men’s First Round (Bottom Half – Played Jan 8)
[3] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [Q] Ramit Tandon (IND)
Fares Dessouki (EGY) v [WC] Todd Harrity (USA)
James Willstrop (ENG) v Alister Walker (BOT)
Tom Richards (ENG) v [6] Simon Rösner (GER)
[8] Marwan Elshorbagy (EGY) v Cesar Salazar (MEX)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [Q] Nasir Iqbal (PAK)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Daryl Selby (ENG)
[Q] Diego Elias (PER) v [2] Nick Matthew (ENG)
