The high-stakes competition reached new heights today in the quarterfinals of the 2024 China Squash Open. Top global squash players showcased the razor-thin margins that define victory in elite sports, delivering a series of "dances on the knife’s edge."

Underdogs Triumph and Amp Up the Suspense

At 2 p.m., top-seeded Egyptian star Rowan Elaraby took center stage to face the sixth seed, Malaysian talent Rachel Arnold, setting the day’s battles ablaze. 

The top seed started a bit slow, while Arnold quickly gained momentum with deftly mixed shots and wide angles, establishing a lead at 5-1. Elaraby soon found her rhythm, leveling the score to 8-8 and using court space to maneuver Arnold into frequent errors, clinching the first game. The second game saw a similar tug-of-war, with Arnold holding steady under pressure to win it and following up with an airtight defense to take the third. Elaraby upped the intensity in the fourth game, employing sharp-angled shots to challenge the Malaysian. Still, Arnold fearlessly matched the tempo, showcasing her powerful all-round game and sealing the game at 11-9. Arnold’s 3-1 victory over the top seed sent her to the semifinals in a stunning upset.

It’s worth noting that Rachel Arnold is no newcomer—she broke into the world’s top 30 in 2022, proving herself a formidable force on the tour. Currently, with 16 PSA finals and five titles to her name, she shares a squash pedigree with her sister, Delia Arnold, who once ranked as high as 12th worldwide.

Following Arnold’s win, eighth-seeded Aira Azman of Malaysia drew inspiration from her compatriot. Though she trailed Egyptian star and fourth seed Sana Ibrahim, who captured the first two games 11-2, 11-9 and surged to a 9-4 lead in the third, Azman refused to back down. She clawed her way back to take the third 14-12, dismantling her opponent’s game to complete a stunning 3-2 comeback and claim the second women’s semifinal spot.

Composure Under Pressure Defines Elite Players

In the men’s bracket, Hong Kong’s Tsz Kwan Lau, this year’s dark horse, took on defending champion and top seed Mohamed ElShorbagy from England. Lau, riding high from his upset of sixth seed Nicolas Mueller, immediately hit his stride, deploying a flexible and dynamic strategy to seize the first game 11-8. But ElShorbagy answered with a fast-paced, tactical battle, taking the second game and setting the stage for a decisive third game showdown. In a gripping battle to 7-7, ElShorbagy ultimately edged ahead, taking the game 14-12. In the fourth game, the defending champion displayed even finer control of pace, putting Lau on the defensive to claim victory and continue his title defense.

Although Lau narrowly missed clinching the third game, he expressed gratitude for the challenge, noting that facing top-tier players back-to-back has accelerated his growth and self-awareness.

Meanwhile, in another highly anticipated match, second-seeded Malaysian Sivasangari Subramaniam displayed flawless composure to repel her opponent's attacks, joining ElShorbagy in defending the high seeds. 

Facing England’s seventh seed, Georgia Adderley, Subramaniam showcased her agility, firmly controlling the T-zone and neutralizing Adderley’s powerful shots, securing the first two games 11-9. Adderley countered with an 11-6 win in the third game, but Subramaniam’s remarkable composure allowed her to regain control, pinning her opponent in the corners to close the fourth game at 11-9, securing a semifinal spot. Post-match, Subramaniam credited her focus, treating every point as a new beginning.

Equally steady was Malaysia’s third seed and Hangzhou Asian Games singles champion, Eain Yow Ng. Against Egypt’s 17-year-old sensation Mohamad Zakaria, the youngest-ever PSA Tour champion, Ng’s strategic prowess prevailed over Zakaria’s relentless attacks. In a 64-minute battle, Ng calmly countered his opponent’s intensity to secure a 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-2 comeback victory, claiming the third men’s semifinal ticket.

After an intense day of competition, the semifinal lineup is set.

Men’s Semifinalists: Mohamed ElShorbagy (England), Mohamed Abouelghar (Egypt), Iker Pajares (Spain), Eain Yow Ng (Malaysia)
Women’s Semifinalists: Farida Mohamed (Egypt), Sivasangari Subramaniam (Malaysia), Rachel Arnold (Malaysia), Aira Azman (Malaysia)

The China Squash Open is a joint production with media partner FindingSquash.