Atlas out of World Open

KARACHI: Pakistan number one Aamir Atlas’ winning run ended as he fell 3-0 to Egypt’s Mohammaed El Shorbagy in the third round of the World Open Squash Championship underway in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Atlas, who was impressive in his last match against Ramay Ashour before the world number two Egyptian withdrew after losing the first game, struggled against the 12th-seeded Shorbagy who won the match in straight games.

The world number 23 from Peshawar started off well and took a 4-1 lead before Shorbagy, the world junior champion, hit back to snatch the opening game 11-8.

Atlas seemed to have lost rhythm after the first game and made successive errors in the second to allow easy sailing for the Egyptian who won 11-6 to take a 2-0 lead.

However, Atlas attempted a comeback but to no avail as Shorbagy won the third game 11-8 to seal a place in the quarter-finals.

Atlas, who recently won a silver medal in the individual event and a gold in the team event of the Asian Games, was unhappy with his performance.

“I was playing well initially but lost focus. This is happening quite often and I’ll have to work hard in my future assignments,” Atlas told The Express Tribune.

“Shorbagy is a good player and played like a professional.”

The Egyptian will now meet sixth-seeded Englishman James Willstrop and expects a good battle in the quarter-final. “Willstrop is a good player and has defeated me recently in Kuwait. I am expecting an enjoyable match against him,” said Shorbagy.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th, 2010.