Top seed wants glory at Classic in March

Top seed Omar Mosaad is aiming to become the first Egyptian winner of the Canary Wharf Classic when the tournament returns to the East Wintergarden from March 7-11.

Mosaad began 2016 in his highest position of number four in the PSA world rankings after a run of excellent form at the end of last year.

After a spell out of the game to look after his family, Mosaad returned to squash with renewed focus and determination and reached the final of the US Open in Philadelphia in October and the World Championship in Seattle in November.

In the US Open he beat England’s Nick Matthew, who has won the Canary Wharf title a record five times, and in Seattle he took out fellow Egyptians Ramy Ashour and Tarek Momen, but twice finished runner-up to Gregory Gaultier of France.

This week, Mosaad succumbed to another Egyptian, world number one Mohamed Elshorbagy, in the quarter-finals of the Tournament of Champions in New York.

Mosaad meets England’s world No.24 Chris Simpson in the first round at Canary Wharf.

The No.2 seed is Germany’s Simon Rosner, who was runner-up to Matthew in 2015. Rosner is approaching Canary Wharf in excellent form after beating England’s James Willstrop in New York and losing a ferocious battle to Gaultier in the quarter-finals.

The top half of the draw boasts four Egyptians, with fourth seed Marwan Elshorbagy meeting Fares Dessouki and eighth seed Mazen Hesham facing England’s wild card Ben Coleman.

Mathieu Castagnet (France) is seeded three with four-times winner Willstrop at five, Cameron Pilley (Australia) at six and Brentwood resident Daryl Selby at seven.

Tickets for the event have sold out, but to join a waiting list please email cw@eventis-sports.com