Massaro fell to 18-year-old Egyptian Gohar in a bruising quarter-final at the Hong Kong Open last month but made amends on the edge of Shanghai’s Bund.
The Englishwoman halted Gohar’s eight-match winning streak, playing accurate and disciplined squash to take the honours and claim her first PSA World Tour title since winning the 2015-16 season-ending Dubai PSA World Series Finals in May.
The world No. 2 came through 11-9, 11-5, 11-3 in just 36 minutes to secure the silverware while men’s world No. 1 Mohamed ElShorbagy bounced back from his shock second round exit in Hong Kong to defeat World No. 2 Gregory Gaultier and claim the men’s title – winning 3-0 in three minutes less than Massaro.
ElShorbagy lost out to Australian Cameron Pilley last month but looked back to the form that saw him claim six of seven PSA World Series titles last season as he overpowered Gaultier, the Frenchman who was hoping to defend the crown he won ahead of ElShorbagy’s younger brother, Marwan, twelve months ago.
2016 China Squash Open – Women’s Final:
[1] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [3] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 11-5, 11-3 (36m)
2016 China Squash Open – Men’s Final:
[1] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) 3-0: 11-5, 11-3, 11-3 (33m)
