2010 U.S. Squash Open: The youngest ever U.S. Open finalist; Amanda Sobhy
Hailing from New York city, America's Amanda Sobhy did what no other young professional could. At the tender age of seventeen, upon making it to the finals of the 2010 U.S. Squash Open, Sobhy came to be the youngest ever U.S. Open finalist in the history of
the sport.
The American professional defeated Italy's Manuela Manetta in the semi-final match played between the two, to make it through to the finals of the championship. Seeded no. 8 at the tournament, Amanda got off to a good start, defeating Manetta 11-3 in the first
set of the match. Furthermore, the sportswoman went on to take the second set 11-5, to demoralize the Italian athlete.
Manetta however, rose in terms of her performance, as she took the third set 11-5. Nevertheless, Sobhy was beyond determined to come out triumphant at the semi-finals of the 2010 U.S. Open. Remaining as focused as she was throughout the game, Amanada took the
deciding fourth set 11-9, to make a place for herself at the finals of the tournament.
Prior to breezing through to the semi-finals, Sobhy eliminated Ireland's Aisling Blake in the quarter-finals of their draw. Seeded no. 4 at the championship, Blake took the opening set of the match, based upon her 15-13 win, despite Sobhy's constant struggle
to bag the first set.
Fortunately for the American professional, her struggle did not go to waste, as it was all downhill for Aisling from there on. Amanda went on to take the second set 11-5, the third set 11-5 once again and the deciding fourth set 11-7, to be put through to the
next round.
Alongside, in an arduous five set quarter-final match, Manetta got through with America's Latasha Khan to proceed further at the tournament. Latasha exercised her authority on the match, as she took the first set 11-6. However, Manuela bounced back to take
the second set 11-3.
Going nip and tuck, Khan clinched the third set based upon her 11-6 win, until Manetta cameback to take the fourth set 11-4. As evenly contested as the two sportswomen were, the match eventually went in favor of the Italian professional, as Manuela bagged the
deciding fifth set 12-10.
Amanda Sobhy will further be made to oppose Netherlands' Vanessa Atkinson in the finals of the 2010 U.S. Squash Open, to be played in Chicago.
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