Hamed and ElSherbini rule squash courts

Mohamed ElSherbini and Menna Hamed took the main men’s and women’s titles at the 2017 Keith Grainger Memorial Open when they won their Professional Squash Association (PSA) finals on 28 April.

The win was ElSherbini’s third straight PSA title in three weeks, with his amazing run crowned by outclassing South African no. 3 seed Trustan Eysele 3-0 in just 29 minutes.

Hamed’s win in the women’s PSA final meant the crown stayed in Egypt for another year. Hamed’s match was a nail-biter, and was a rollercoaster of emotions for the packed crowd (most of whom were rooting for UCT alumnus and home favourite Alexandra Fuller).

Fuller raced to a 2-0 lead, seeming in total control. A collision in the third game appeared to rattle her and from the fourth game Hamed shifted gears, ultimately rocketing to a 6-11 win. This was Hamed’s second PSA title.

Panashe Sithole beat no. 1 seed Hanneliza Human 3-1 in the women’s open A section final, while South African Daniel Smith beat South Korean Nyeon-Ho Lee 13-11 in an electrifying match in the men’s A section final.

Winners of the other various sections included:

• Women’s 35–54: Juanette le Roux
• Men 40–54: Donald Davidson
• Men 55–59: Gary Fourie
• Men 60–64: Pierr Roodt
• Men 65–75: Andries van Eeden
• Men’s B Section: Cameron Arries

The finals wrapped up a week of squash that brought some of the best players around to UCT’s courts.