"I'm really sorry for Ramy. He played amazing in El Gouna but had a tough match with Niki last night, where I think he got injured, I hope he gets quick recovery”, Mosaad said (pic: Irena Vanisova). World Champion Ramy Ashour’s (le) hopes of winning back-to-back PSA World Tour titles came crashing down as he limped off court against fellow Egyptian Omar Mosaad (ri) during the quarter-finals of the 2015 Grasshopper Cup, in Zurich.
Just 24 hours earlier, Ashour came back from 2 games down to beat home favourite Nicolas Mueller in 5 games in 1st round action. But World No.9 Mosaad showed his intent from the opening point, taking the ball short to test Ashour’s movement – a tactic that paid off to a victory after Ashour conceded the match conceded the match with Mosaad leading 11-3, 11-8, 7-11, 9-4. “Of course I am happy to reach the semi-finals but that is not the way I want to win and it is hard for me,” said Mosaad.
Mosaad’s semis opponent will be Germany’s Simon Rösner, who came through a tough match with Indian qualifier Saurav Ghosal. The World No.10 Rösner came back from 1 game down to win 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 in 71 minutes.
Earlier, top seed Greg Gaultier was in commanding form to overrun England’s Daryl Selby 11-6, 11-4, 11-5. Gaultier will take on World No.5 Miguel Angel Rodriguez of Colombia who beat Frenchman Mathieu Castagnet 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-2.
Semi-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) v [3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
[6] Omar Mosaad (EGY) v [5] Simon Rösner (GER)
Quarter-finals:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-6, 11-4, 11-5 (45m)
[3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) 8-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-2 (69m)
[5] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND) 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-8 (71m)
[6] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) 11-3, 11-8, 7-11, 9-4 ret. (61m)
1st round:
[1] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 11-8, 11-7, 11-9 (52m)
Daryl Selby (ENG) bt [7] Borja Golan (ESP) 13-11, 11-9, 11-5 (78m)
[8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) bt [Q] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 4-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-6 (90m)
[3] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) bt [Q] Laurens Jan Anjema (NED) 5-11, 11-6, 11-6, 12-10 (76m)
[Q] Saurav Ghosal (IND) bt [4] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-9, 4-11, 11-4, 11-6 (66m)
[5] Simon Rösner (GER) bt [WC] Reiko Peter (SUI) 11-8, 11-7, 11-5 (42m)
[6] Omar Mosaad (EGY) bt [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) 11-6, 11-5, 11-4 (38m)
[2] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt Nicolas Mueller (SUI) 3-11, 6-11, 11-9, 13-11, 11-8 (69m)
