Egypt’s Shehab Essam collected his fifth career PSA title by fulfilling his top seeding at the Life Time Philadelphia Open, June 1, at the newly-opened Life Time Athletic King of Prussia in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
Essam, world No. 75, progressed through the $11,000 draw by defeating U.S. junior champion Thomas Rosini in the second round, American Faraz Khan in a four-game quarterfinal and England’s Lyell Fuller in a close five-game semifinal. In the bottom half of the draw, Cornell graduate and four seed Aditya Jagtap reached the finals with wins over Americans Spencer Lovejoy in the quarterfinals and Timmy Brownell in the semifinals.
In the final, Essam stormed to the title in less than half an hour 11-8, 11-4, 11-4.
The tournament marked the Philadelphia Open’s revival since it was last held from 1994-1998.
