Amanda Sobhy is looking to “get the momentum going” in front of a home crowd during the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Windy City Open in Chicago.
The United States’ top ranked female player, who is currently sixth in the world, is among the starters who will be at the World Series event being held in the University Club of Chicago’s Cathedral Hall, which starts tomorrow.
It will be her second appearance at the tournament, having lost to France’s Camille Serme in last year’s quarter-finals, and after a partially torn fascia saw her struggle during the Tournament of Champions in January, where she crashed out at the second round stage.
Looking ahead to the Windy City Open, Sobhy is hoping to put this disappointment behind her and build towards future competitions this season.
“It is imperative that I get the momentum going in Chicago because it will set the tone for the next few tournaments that I play after that,” the 23-year-old said.
“I am very eager to get back on the court and compete.
“Despite not getting the results I wanted last month, I think having this time off was good for me because it allowed me to hit the refresh button and go into these next tournaments relatively fresh mentally and physically.”
Sobhy is due to begin her Windy City campaign on Friday against a qualifier.
Action in both the men’s and women’s draws begins tomorrow with the finals taking place on March 1.
Defending men’s champion and world number one Mohamed Elshorbagy of Egypt faces New Zealand’s Paul Coll in the first round.
Another Egyptian, Raneem El Welily, heads into the competition looking for a third straight women’s title in Chicago and the world number three faces England’s Jenny Duncalf on Friday (February 24) in the first round.
By George Thorpe
Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz.