R1:ElSherbini Holds Off Gohar In Four

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Mohamed ElSherbini (EGY) bt Mohamed Gohar (EGY) 3-1: 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6 (53m)

World No.33 Mohamed ElSherbini claimed the last win of day one at the Palm Hills Squash Open 2025, overcoming Wildcard Mohamed Gohar in four games.

In a high-quality affair, it was World No.33 ElSherbini who hung tough to record an 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-6 win. All throughout the 53-minute encounter, Gohar – the younger brother of World No.1 Nouran – played impressively and traded blows with ElSherbini with some aggressive hitting, managing to get a proper foothold in the match at one game apiece.

Despite Gohar saving four game balls from 10-5 down, ElSherbini crept over the line to move 2-1 up, and from there wasn’t to be denied.

ElSherbini continued to manoeuvre the ball smartly across the all-glass in the fourth game and reaped the rewards as Gohar began to tire. From 6-6, ElSherbini claimed five straight points to secure his spot in round two of the Gold-level event.

“Usually late in the evening, you are always a little groggy,” ElSherbini admitted after the match. “Mohamed was very good today, he was sticking in every point and he was very strong at the back of the court. He was retrieving a lot of my shots, so I was very pleased to survive today.

“I just wanted to take it one game at a time today. He was great today. He was changing his tactics every game, so I just had to adapt, and I did that well.”