The ATCO PSA Dubai World Series Finals began with a bang with defending champion Laura Massaro defeating world number two Raneem El Welily in a relentless opening day fixture.

At the Emirates Golf Club, Egyptian El Welily took the first game 11-8 in an exciting 12-minute encounter, only for the defending champion to battle back and take the second 9-11, to set up a nail biting final game.

Massaro made sure of the win with an outrageous behind-the-back winner to secure an 8-11 victory. Speaking to Sport360° after her victory the world number seven said: “I’m chuffed to get a win over Raneem as she’s been playing so well this year. To win the match with a shot like that as well, it’s probably the best shot I’ve ever hit in my life, especially as it was on match ball.”

Success at the tournament means Massaro would become the first player to win the competition three times. However, she insists it’s too early to be thinking about taking the title back home.

“It would be a great thing to add to my CV,” she said. “It’s not going to be easy though, I’ve got to just get out the group to start with.”

Players have to adapt to a new, best-of-three style for the competition, which means there’s little margin for error.

In the day’s first fixture Frenchwoman Camille Serme came from behind to defeat England’s Sarah-Jane Perry 8-11, 12-10, 12-10.

Speaking afterwards Serme said: “Every match is hard this year I’m just happy because we had a fighting game played in a good spirit.

“When you’re one love down it’s more stressful you don’t want to give points away but you still have the urge to attack. I don’t know how I managed to win this one after
being one love down to be honest.”

In the men’s section, in Group B, German Simon Rosner took just 28 minutes to secure victory over Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawad.

“I think I got off to a good start and that’ll give me confidence for the rest of the week,” said Rosner.

The best-of-three style adds a lot of intensity to the game so I like it.”

In the day’s other men’s group B game, Ali Farag from Egypt defeated France’s Gregory Gaultier 11-9, 11-8.

Tickets are available by visiting www.platinumlist.net.

TUESDAY’s RESULTS:

Nick Matthew (ENG) bt. [5] Tarek Momen (EGY) 11-8, 11-9

[3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt. [7] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 11-5, 11-4

[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) bt. [6] Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL) 11-8, 9-11, 11-7

[1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt. [5] Joelle King (NZL) 12-10, 11-7

[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bt. [7] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 11-9, 11-8

[4] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt. [2] Raneem El Welily (EGY) 8-11, 11-9, 11-8

[4] Simon Rösner (GER) bt. [8] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 12-10, 11-6

[6] Camille Serme (FRA) bt. [8] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) 8-11, 12-10, 12-10