The 2017 Edinburgh Sports Club Squash Open has celebrated its final on Sunday in Scotland. England’s Julianne Courtice was matched up with Egypt’s Menna Hamed.
Both unseeded players—Courtice is ranked 88 internationally, while Egypt’s Menna Hamed is ranked 168—were seeking their first Professional Squash Association’s title.
Courtice snatched victory from Hamed, leaving the Egyptian as runner up. “This time last year, I was working full time and I never thought I’d be doing this, playing on the circuit,” said the English champion. “I never thought I’d win a professional title which is why I’m so emotional right now.”
Courtice dominated the first game, winning by 11-3. Hamed took the first three points of the second game; however, Courtice made a comeback by winning 11-8.
Hamed pulled back in the third game by winning 11-9, a win that concerned Courtice who mentioned: “After the first two games, I thought to myself, this is going ok, but when she came into it in the third, I thought I needed to win that one, but I didn’t and I knew it was going to get even tougher.”
After winning the fourth game 11-5, Courtice brought the match’s result to 3-1 in her favour.
“I didn’t think I’d be like this,” Courtice said after winning the championship, “but I’m just so happy.”
