Egypt's world number one Mohamed Elshorbagy got off to a winning start on home territory in the E Gouna International ©Getty Images

Egypt’s world number one Mohamed Elshorbagy came smoothly through his opening match on the home ground of the El Gouna International Squash Open.

Elshorbagy, winner of the title in 2016, defeated March’s Professional Squash Association’s Men’s Player of the Month Nafiizwan Adnan of Malaysia 11-5, 11-8, 11-9 in 36 minutes on the glass court in El Gouna’s Marina on the banks of the Red Sea in this Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Series event. 

Elshorbagy’s younger brother Marwan, the world number four, also came through his first round match as he defeated Britain’s Bel Coleman 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 in 35 minutes.

In the women’s event, newly installed in this Championship, Egypt’s top seed Nour El Sherbini, took just 24 minutes to win her opening match against Britain’s Emily Whitlock by 11-3, 12-10, 11-2.

Egypt's world number one Nour El Sherbini, pictured winning the PSA World Championship in El Gouna last year, made a winning start on the same court at the first women's event in the El Gouna International ©Getty Images
Egypt's world number one Nour El Sherbini, pictured winning the PSA World Championship in El Gouna last year, made a winning start on the same court at the first women's event in the El Gouna International ©Getty Images

Sherbini, winner of the PSA World Championships final at this venue a year ago, is seeded to meet the fellow Egyptian she beat on that occasion, Raneem El Welily, in the final.

Whitlock’s team-mate Laura Massarro, fourth-seeded, beat home player Mayar Hany 11-4, 11-9, 11-8.

France’s sixth seed, Camille Serme, had a test before coming past India’s Dipika Pallikal Karthik 12-10, 11-7, 14-12.

Malaysia’s 34-year-old eight-times world champion Nicole David,  seeded sixth, won her opening match against home qualifier Zeina Mickawy 12-10, 11-2, 9-11, 11-2.