South African No 2 ranked player Christo Potgieter fell to a shock defeat to Egyptian Abdallah Elmasry as the Growthpoint SA Open kicked off at the Western Province Squash Club in Cape Town.
The Professional Squash Association (PSA) sanctioned tournament sees South Africa’s top squash players taking on a powerful international field led by the Frenchman Lucas Serme alongside Egyptian Salma Youssef.
Day 1 of the tournament saw the men’s round of 24 hosted at the Western Province Squash Club in Cape Town.
Eight matches took place to determine the eight players that will progress to face the eight seeded players in the tournament in the round of 16 taking place on Tuesday.
A predictable day saw the favourites easily progress to the next round with comfortable wins, that was until the final match of the day with South African hopeful Christo Potgieter taking on PSA world number 452, Abdallah Elmasry.
The first game lasted 16 minutes with both players going toe to toe in which Abdallah finally won 16-14. Christo fought back in the second game to take it 11-7 and tie the match.
Unfortunately, Potgieter wasn’t able to build on the switch in momentum and lost the third game 11-6, before a few sloppy shots in the final game saw him lose 11-2.
The Growthpoint SA Open continues on Tuesday for the second day’s action, which will see the round of 16 played at the Western Province Squash Club.
Those who progress to the quarter-finals will then head to the V&A Waterfront in the all-glass squash court where the real action will begin.
In partnership with ANA and Mediapix
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