Elshorbagy was 2-1 down and saved multiple match balls, to defeat Salazar during an opening day of action at Philadelphia’s Drexel University that saw the Men’s draw blown wide open.
ElShorbagy, who won the tournament in 2014 to go top of the World Rankings for the first time in his career, struggled to contain an inspired Salazar during their 77 minute battle.
In the end he managed to do just enough in the end to avoid joining World No.3 Omar Mosaad and number seven seed Miguel Angel Rodriguez in exiting the event at the first hurdle, as they fell at the hands of former World No.1 James Willstrop and Malaysian qualifier Nafiizwan Adnan, respectively.
“Today I fought and fought. I won – that’s what matters – and I’ll keep fighting until the end. I’m really happy to come through – finding the way to win is the most important thing and I know that I’ll definitely be better next round after that match.”
Englishman Willstrop evoked memories of the form that took him to the top of the World Rankings in 2012 as he produced a virtuoso display of complete control to knock out 2015 runner-up Mosaad in straight games.
Willstrop, currently ranked No.19 in the world after slowly working his way back from a serious hip operation in 2014, rekindled his form during last week’s NetSuite Open when he reached a first high profile tournament final since that surgery and he picked up where he left off as he controlled the ball and lived up to his ‘Marksman’ moniker to put Mosaad to the sword.
“I’m feeling good,” said Willstrop. “But it’s been a long time since I’ve put together a tournament winning, or latter stages, run. Last week in San Francisco was good but doing it at a World Series event is even tougher.
“I’m feeling good and if I can keep the intensity then you never know what could happen. The enjoyment is there for me and there’s a freshness about how I feel which is pleasing.”
Willstrop will face Mohamed Abouelghar in the second round of a draw that is now wide open after Miguel Angel Rodriguez’s shock first round defeat to Adnan – the 30-year-old Malaysian qualifier who came through in straight-games to reach the second round of a PSA World Series tournament for only the third time in his career.
“I’m really, really happy,” said Adnan. “I almost lost to Charles Sharpes in the first round of qualification when I was 0-2 down. I told myself just to play – that I had nothing to lose – and relax. That worked and I tried to do the same today, and it is really pleasing to win – it’s a big win for me.”
Elsewhere in the Men’s draw there was a impressive win for Peruvian qualifier Diego Elias as he downed Frenchman Gregoire Marche while England’s Chris Simpson came through against Egyptian Karim Ali Fathi.
It was more straightforward for the top seeds in the Women’s draw as World No.1 Nour El Sherbini, three-time US Open champion Nicol David and World No.5 Raneem El Welily all set down impressive markers to stroll into the second round.
After returning to form at last month’s Al Ahram Open, where she claimed the honours with victory over El Sherbini in the decider, El Welily continued to impress as she saw off Belgian qualifier Nele Gilis courtesy of a comfortable 3-0 win .
“I’m always happy to be back in the US Open – I always enjoy coming back here,” said El Welily. “Looking back at Al Ahram really makes me smile but it is in the past now. I want to make a strong push now and carry on that kind of form for the rest of this tournament.”
El Sherbini was equally as impressive as she downed Japanese qualifier Misaki Kobayashi 3-0 wile three-time US Open champion David got off to a positive start to defeat Denmark’s Line Hansen in straight games and set up a second round battle with Egyptian Nour El Tayeb – the 2015 runner-up.
David struggled at the first PSA World Series tournament of the season, the Hong Kong Open, as she failed to hit her stride in the early stages but she cut a different figure as she played with confidence and precision to put in an assured 30 minute win over Hansen.
“It has been great to see the US Open grow over the past few years and be involved in this great tournament,” said David.
“A 3-0 win is always a good start for me and I’m pleased to get through and get into the rhythm here on the glass court. You just have to keep working harder and harder with each and every round and I’m looking forward to playing against Nour (El Tayeb) in two days.”
The first round action continues from 12 noon local time at Drexel University’s Daskalakis Athletic Centre on Sunday October 9, with tickets for the PSA World Series tournament available to purchase by visiting www.usopensquash.com
Results – Men’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Top Half
[1] Mohamed Elshorbagy (EGY) bt Cesar Salazar (MEX) 3-2; 6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 13-11 (77m)
Chris Simpson (ENG) bt [Q] Karim Ali Fathi (EGY) 3-1: 11-7, 11-9, 12-14, 13-11 (70m)
[Q] Diego Elias (PER) bt Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-1: 7-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6 (60m)
[6] Marwan ElShorbagy (EGY) bt Cameron Pilley (AUS) 3-1: 11-4, 11-8, 4-11, 11-8 (60m)
[Q] Nafiizwan Adnan (MAS) bt [7] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-9 (67m)
Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [Q] Alan Clyne (SCO) – to be played October 9
Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) bt [Q] Campbell Grayson (NZL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-9, 11-7 (41m)
James Willstrop (ENG) bt [3] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 (56m)
Draw – Men’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Bottom Half
[4] Nick Matthew (ENG) v [WC] Christopher Gordon (USA) – to be played October 9
Simon Rösner (GER) v [Q] Abdulla Al Tamimi (QAT) – to be played October 9
Leo Au (HKG) v Fares Dessouky (EGY) – to be played October 9
Ali Farag (EGY) v [8] Mathieu Castagnet (FRA) – to be played October 9
[5] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v Tom Richards (ENG) – to be played October 9
Max Lee (HKG) bt [Q] Henrik Mustonen (FIN) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-1 (20m)
Ryan Cuskelly (AUS) v [Q] Paul Coll (NZL) – to be played October 9
Daryl Selby (ENG) v [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) – to be played October 9
Results – Women’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Top Half
[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [Q] Misaki Kobayashi (JPN) 3-0: 13-11, 11-9, 11-2 (28m)
[13] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt Rachael Grinham (AUS) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 11-8 (26m)
[Q] Salma Hany Ibrahim (EGY) bt [16] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 3-2: 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 13-15, 11-5 (55m)
[8] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [WC] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 3-0: 11-8, 11-5, 11-3 (19m)
[5] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [Q] Nele Gillis (BEL) 3-0: 11-6, 11-4, 11-3 (30m)
[10] Joelle King (NZL) bt [Q] Nadine Shahin (EGY) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 12-10 (33m)
[11] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [Q] Fiona Moverley (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 14-12 (28m)
[3] Nicol David (MAS) bt Line Hansen (DEN) 3-0: 11-3, 11-6, 11-6 (30m)
Draw – Women’s 2016 Delaware Investments U.S. Open: Bottom Half
[4] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [Q] Coline Aumard (FRA) – to be played October 9
[Q] Tesni Evans (WAL) v [14] Emily Whitlock (ENG) – to be played October 9
[15] Victoria Lust (ENG) v Donna Urquhart (AUS) – to be played October 9
Dipika Pallikal Karthik (IND) v [7] Amanda Sobhy (USA) – to be played October 9
[6] Camille Serme (FRA) v Delia Arnold (MAS) – to be played October 9
Joey Chan (HKG) v [12] Annie Au (HKG) – to be played October 9
[9] Joshna Chinappa (IND) v Heba El Torky (EGY) – to be played October 9
[Q] Kanzy Emad El Defrawy (EGY) v [2] Laura Massaro (ENG) – to be played October 9