[Windy City Main Draw]

[1st rnd -Day1] [1st rnd -Day1] [2nd rnd] [Quarter-Finals] [Semis][Final]

Shabana & Gaultier Lead Advancers   

Two Egyptians who both returned to Chicago in remembrance of strong outings a year ago, advanced in the first day of play at the University Club in Chicago Illinois.

Amr Shabana, the current world #1 advanced in straight games against former top-tenner, Dan Jenson from Australia. Fellow Egyptian Wael El Hindi won an Egyptian intramural contest, advancing at the expense of Hisham Ashour, also in straight games.  

James Willstrop had a good outing against fellow Englishman Daryl Selby, winning in 35 minutes, three minutes more than Shabana spent on court. Willstrop will most likely have two Egyptian opponents in succession --- the dangerous Mo Abbas in the next round and the electric Shabana in the quarterfinals.

Also in the top half of the draw, Gregory Gaultier advanced with ease against Alex Gough of Wales. In Gaultier's quarter, US-based John White advanced, palying his way into the match after dropping the first game to Mark Heather.

Australia's defending champion David Palmer had to fight back from a game down before reserving his place in the last sixteen of the second PSA Super Series Silver event of the year, in Chicago, USA.

Second seed Palmer, the world No2 from New South Wales, needed 64 minutes to overcome Italy's Davide Bianchetti, ranked 26 places lower, 6-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-9.

"I was playing far too slow at the start of the match, I knew I had to pick up the pace because it’s not my game at all," the World Open champion said   "It was not my best game, I had to keep my head down, but at the end of the day, it’s still a win, even if it was one of those days."

The first round concludes tomorrow (Friday) with the second group of eight matches, commencing at Noon.

[Complete draw and results]

RESULTS:        Infor Windy City Open Squash Championship, Chicago, USA   

1st round:      [Windy City Main Draw]
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) def Dan Jenson (AUS) 11-10(3-1) 11-4 11-5 (32 min)
[12] Olli Tuominen (FIN) v [Q] Mark Krajcsak (HUN) (Friday)
[7] James Willstrop (ENG) def [Q] Daryl Selby (ENG) 11-5 11-8 11-2 (35 min)
[13] Mohammed Abbas (EGY) v [Q] Amr Mansi (EGY) (Friday)
[4] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) def Alex Gough (WAL) 11-7 11-8 11-9
[9] Stewart Boswell (AUS) v [Q] Tom Richards (ENG) (Friday)
[8] John White (SCO) def Mark Heather (ENG) 8-11 11-9 11-10(2-0) 11-4 (51 min)
[14] Ong Beng Hee (MAS) def [Q] Stacey Ross (ENG) 11-7 11-10(3-1) 11-6 (38 min)
[10] Adrian Grant (ENG) v [Q] Julian Illingworth (USA) (Friday)
[6] Ramy Ashour (EGY) v [Q] Badr Abdel Aziz (SWE) (Friday)
[11] Wael El Hindi (EGY) def Hisham Mohd Ashour (EGY) 11-9 11-7 11-8 (37 min)
[3] Thierry Lincou (FRA) v Liam Kenny (IRL) (Friday)
[16] Cameron Pilley (AUS) def [Q] Scott Handley (ENG) 11-3 11-9 11-8 (38 min)
[5] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) v Rafael F Alarcon (BRA) (Friday)
[15] Graham Ryding (CAN) v Shawn Delierre (CAN) (Friday)
[2] David Palmer (AUS) def Davide Bianchetti (ITA) 6-11 11-6 11-8 11-9 (64 min)