MEXICAN qualifier Cesar Salazar secured the biggest scalp so far in the PSA (Professional Squash Association) World Open 2011 at Victoria squash in Rotterdam, the biggest and most valuable squash event ever held in The Netherlands. Salazar defeated England's world No 17 Adrian Grant on the second day of first round action in the premier PSA World Tour squash event of the year. Making his debut in the championship, the 23-year-old from San Luis Potosi recovered from a game down, then stemmed a fourth game fightback by former quarter-finalist Grant to beat the England international 8-11, 11-3, 11-5, 8-11, 11-5 in 68 minutes. The victory was made all the more sweet as the world No 59 had battled through two rounds of qualifying to make the first round where he joined his higher-ranked twin brother Arturo Salazar. But underdog Cesar has now progressed further, as Arturo was beaten in the first round. But the day was otherwise dominated by Egyptians -- five of whom prevailed to join a further five who survived in the first round action in the top half of the draw. World junior champion Marwan El-Shorbagi became the second qualifier to make the second round after his higher- ranked opponent Farhan Mehboob, the world No 47 from Pakistan, retired injured after two games with the score at 11-6, 11-8 in the Egyptian teenager's favor. Marwan, whose older brother Mohamed El-Shorbagi, the ninth seed, is also through to the second round, will now face England's 11th seed Daryl Selby, an 11-2, 13-11, 11-7 victor over fellow countryman Adrian Waller. Cairo brothers Rami Ashour and Hisham Mohamed Ashour will both compete in the second round for the fourth year in a row: Older sibling Hisham saw off Australian qualifier Zac Alexander 11-6, 13-11, 11-6 while second seed Rami, the 2008 champion, battled for 40 minutes to get the better of New Zealand qualifier Campbell Grayson 11-9, 14-12, 11-5. England's James Willstrop successfully began his bid to reach the final for the second year in a row with an 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 win in 33 minutes over Hong Kong qualifier Max Lee. Twice a World Open runner-up, France's Gregory Gaultier successfully began his bid to go further this year with an 11-4, 11-3, 11-6 victory over Dutch wild card Dylan Bennett -- and now goes on to face surprise opponent Cesar Salazar. In the women's WISPA World Open it was qualifying finals day, and three young Egyptians swelled the ranks of their compatriots already in the main draw. Irish Aisling Blake was the first winner of the day after beating Scottish Lisa Aitken. During a brief power cut two courts were still playable, so Swiss Gaby Huber completed her victory over Czech Republic's Olga Ertlova. England's Lauren Selby was in no mood to offer the French Maud Duplomb birthday gifts, and not after yesterday's scare of the Egyptian squad from Nour El Sherbini. El-Sherbini beat New Zealand's Kylie Lindsay to a place in the main draw, the Kiwi glad to get a few points in the third after going 10-0 down. It took over an hour for young Egyptian Yathreb Adel to beat Victoria Lust in a hard-fought encounter. Wales' Tesni Evans temporarily halted the Egyptian advance with a 3/1 win over Heba El-Torki. Kanzi El-Dafrawi made it a hat-trick of Egyptian qualifiers as she beat South African Siyoli Waters in straight games to the delight of her new-found Dutch fans, and American veteran Latasha Khan grabbed the last spot with a fairly comfortable win over England's Lauren Briggs.
