Amanda Sobhy

{{Short description|American squash player}} {{Infobox squash player | name = Amanda Sobhy | image = | caption = | country = United States | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|6|29}} | birth_place = Sea Cliff, New York, United States | death_date = | death_place = | height = 5 ft 8 in | weight = 150 lbs | turnedpro = 2015 | retired = | plays = Left handed | coach = Wael El Hindi | racquet = Head | website = {{URL|http://www.amandasobhy.com}} | event = Women's singles | years_active = | highest_ranking = No. 3 | date_of_highest_ranking = October 2021 | current_ranking = No. 11 | date_of_current_ranking = February 2026 | titles = 23 | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's squash}} {{MedalCountry| {{USA}} }} {{MedalCompetition | World Championships }} {{MedalBronze | 2020–21 Chicago | Singles }} {{MedalBronze | 2022 Cairo | Singles }} {{MedalCompetition | World Team Championships}} {{MedalSilver | 2022 Cairo | Team}} {{MedalSilver | 2024 Hong Kong | Team}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}} {{MedalGold|2015 Toronto|Singles}} {{MedalGold|2015 Toronto|Doubles}} {{MedalGold|2015 Toronto|Team}} {{MedalGold|2019 Lima|Singles}} {{MedalGold|2019 Lima|Doubles}} {{MedalGold|2019 Lima|Team}} {{MedalGold|2023 Santiago|Team}} {{MedalSilver|2023 Santiago|Singles}} {{MedalSilver|2023 Santiago|Doubles}} {{MedalCompetition | World Junior Championships}} {{MedalGold|2010 Cologne|Singles}} }}

'''Amanda Sobhy''' (born June 29, 1993) is an American squash player. A five-time national champion, she was the first U.S.-born player to reach the top five in the Professional Squash Association (PSA) world rankings.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rankings Recalculation Sees Sobhy Become First US-Born Player to Reach Top Five of PSA World Rankings|url=https://psaworldtour.com/news/view/8455/rankings-recalculation-sees-sobhy-become-first-us-born-player-to-reach-top-five-of-psa-world-rankings|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Professional Squash Association|date=April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401160753/https://psaworldtour.com/news/view/8455/rankings-recalculation-sees-sobhy-become-first-us-born-player-to-reach-top-five-of-psa-world-rankings |archive-date=2021-04-01 }}</ref> She reached a career-high world ranking of No. 3 in October 2021 after reaching the semi-finals of the 2021 British Open and the 2021 CIB Egyptian Open, and winning the 2021 Oracle Netsuite Open.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sobhy Becomes First US-Born Player to Reach World's Top Three - PSA|url=https://psaworldtour.com/news/view/9028/sobhy-becomes-first-us-born-player-to-reach-world-s-top-three|access-date=2021-10-01|website=psaworldtour.com|date=October 2021 }}</ref>

== Early life == Amanda Sobhy was born in Sea Cliff, New York, to an Egyptian father, Khaled Sobhy, and an American mother, Jodie Larson. Both of her parents played squash.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/espnw/life-style/article/18462330/how-amanda-sobhy-intends-become-best-squash-player-world |author=Berg, Aimee |title=How Amanda Sobhy intends to become the best squash player in the world |website=ESPN.com |date=January 13, 2017 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref>

Sobhy is a graduate of North Shore High School<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/after-conquest-of-pan-am-games-amanda-sobhy-looks-to-take-on-the-world-in-squash-1.10661759 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929014739/http://www.newsday.com/sports/after-conquest-of-pan-am-games-amanda-sobhy-looks-to-take-on-the-world-in-squash-1.10661759 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 29, 2015 |author=Albanese, Laura |title=LI's Sobhy looks to take on the world in squash |work=Newsday |date=July 20, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> where she played volleyball, softball and as left halfback of the school's varsity soccer team during her freshman year. In eighth grade she broke her right ankle and shattered her tibia while playing softball.<ref name=sm>{{citation |url=http://squashmagazine.ussquash.com/2011/06/the-strongest-tree-amanda-sobhy/ |author=Zug, James |title=The Strongest Tree: Amanda Sobhy |date=June 1, 2011 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref>

In May 2015 she graduated from Harvard University, having majored in Social Anthropology<ref>{{cite news |author=Kng Zheng Guan |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/squash/2014/08/19/studies-and-squash-go-hand-in-hand-for-sobhy/ |title=Studies and squash go hand-in-hand for Sobhy |work=The Toronto Star |date=August 19, 2014 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> and minored in Global Health and Health Policy.

== Career == === Pre-college career === During the 2009 world juniors in Chennai, India, Sobhy defeated the third seed Laura Gemmel and following it, lost to Kanzy El Defrawy. During the semifinals, which happened few days later, she participated in a team competition with which she defeated Nour El Sherbini of Egypt who was just crowned junior world champion.<ref name=sm/>

On April 24, 2010, she won the Racquet Club International in St. Louis, Missouri,<ref>{{cite web |access-date=September 24, 2019 |url=http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/racquetclub20101.htm |title=Sobhy takes St. Louis title}}</ref> making her the only player in women's professional squash, at the time, to have won three tournaments before the age of 17.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/Southampton/295991/Squash-Week-brings-pros-to-Southampton |title=Squash Week brings pros to Southampton |work=The East Hampton Press/The Southampton Press |date=August 17, 2010 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref>

On June 29, 2010, on her 17th birthday, Sobhy won the World Junior Squash Championships, thus becoming the first, and only, American winner of the prestigious event.<ref name="World Junior">{{cite web |url=http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/worldjuniorw2010.htm |title=Sobhy claims world title in Cologne |location=Cologne, Germany |date=June 29, 2010 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> In the final she defeated Egyptian Nour El Tayeb with a score of 3–11, 11–7, 11–6, 11–7 in 37 minutes.<ref name="World Junior"/>

=== College career === After serving a short suspension for issues related to accepting tournament prize money, Sobhy joined the Harvard team as a freshman in January 2012, and two months into the team won her first national title.<ref>{{cite news |author=Coppinger, Catherine E. |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2012/3/5/squash-national-championship-sobhy-farag/ |title=Sobhy, Farag Win Squash National Championships |work=The Harvard Crimson |date=March 5, 2012 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> She won the individual championship, and her Harvard team won the team championship. In 2013, Sobhy finished the 2012–2013 college season undefeated, having lost her first game to Trinity's number 1, Kanzy Emad El Defrawy.<ref>{{cite news |author=Nelsen, Brenna R. |work=The Harvard Crimson |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/5/30/female-athlete-of-the-year-2013-amanda-sobhy/ |title=Female Athlete of the Year: Amanda Sobhy |date=May 30, 2013 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> The same year, Sobhy won the 2013 World Doubles Championship with Natalie Grainger.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ussquash.com/u-s-victory-in-world-doubles-womens-final/ |title=U.S. victory in World Doubles women's final |publisher=US Squash |date=April 15, 2013 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> She won her second consecutive individual championship and her Harvard team won the team championship. In March 2014, Sobhy won the Granite Open and finished the 2013–2014 college season undefeated with a perfect 17–0 record.<ref>{{cite web |title=Amanda Sobhy Defends Granite Club Open Title as Top Seed |url=https://www.ussquash.com/amanda-sobhy-defends-granite-club-open-title-as-top-seed/ |publisher=US Squash |date=February 17, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> She won the individual championship for a third consecutive year. Sobhy finished the 2014–2015 college season with a perfect record and won her fourth individual intercollegiate title, defeating Kanzy El Defrawy 3–1.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=The Boston Globe |date=February 19, 2015 |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2015/02/19/meet-venus-and-serena-squash/eKx5faBGlYOs4GDaFSaVNP/story.html |title=Meet the Venus and Serena of squash}}</ref> Sobhy finished her intercollegiate career undefeated in 62 matches, having dropped only two games in her four seasons of college competition.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gocrimson.com/sports/wsquash/2015-16/releases/201507220bjglz |title=Former Squash Star Amanda Sobhy '15 Makes History Winning Three Golds at Pan Am Games |work=The Harvard Crimson |date=July 22, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref>

=== Professional career === In December 2014, Sobhy led the US Women's Team to its best-ever finish in the World Team Championships, when she defeated world no. 6 Camille Serme in the deciding match to clinch fifth place over France.

In February 2015, Sobhy was honored with Harvard University's Richey Award, granted to the women's college squash player who best represents the ideals of the game.<ref name="n490">{{cite web | title=Harvard's Sobhy Named 2015 Richey Award Winner | website=Ivy League | date=2025-03-07 | url=https://ivyleague.com/news/2015/2/16/2_16_2015_4070.aspx | access-date=2025-08-31}}</ref><ref name="a097">{{cite web | title=Blatchford Clyne and Way to Receive USOC Awards at U.S. Open | website=U.S. Open Squash Championships | date=2024-09-20 | url=https://usopensquash.com/blatchford-clyne-and-way-to-receive-usoc-awards-at-u-s-open/ | access-date=2025-08-31}}</ref>

In March 2015, Sobhy won her second US National Title, defeating Olivia Blatchford 11–7, 11–2, 11–9 in the final.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://squashmad.com/breaking-news/todd-harrity-and-amanda-sobhy-are-us-champions/ |title=Champions Harrity and Sobhy spearhead exciting new era for US Squash |publisher=Squash Mad |date=March 15, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> In April, Sobhy won her first paycheck on the PSA tour at the Texas Open.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ussquash.com/amanda-sobhy-wins-biggest-title-in-texas/ |title=Amanda Sobhy Wins Biggest Title in Texas |publisher=US Squash |date=April 12, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref>

In July 2015 in Toronto, Sobhy became the first squash athlete to win three gold medals in a single Pan American Games, winning Women's Singles, Women's Doubles with partner Natalie Grainger, and the Women's Team event with Grainger and Olivia Blatchford.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://squashmad.com/breaking-news/amanda-sobhy-aiming-for-a-third-gold/ |title=Amanda Sobhy aiming for a third gold |website=Squash Mad |date=July 17, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> In the final of the Singles event, she beat American, Olivia Blatchford with a score of 11–8, 11–3, 11–3.<ref>{{cite news |author=Kramer, Daniel |url=https://www.teamusa.org/News/2015/July/14/Roommates-Sobhy-And-Blatchford-Take-Gold-Silver-In-All-US-Squash-Final |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717000641/http://www.teamusa.org/News/2015/July/14/Roommates-Sobhy-And-Blatchford-Take-Gold-Silver-In-All-US-Squash-Final |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 17, 2015 |title=Roommates Sobhy And Blatchford Take Gold, Silver In All-U.S. Squash Final |publisher=Team USA |date=July 14, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref>

She claimed her 14th tour title when she won the NetSuite Open in San Francisco in September 2015, sharing her reward with Ramy Ashour.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ussquash.com/amanda-sobhy-wins-inaugural-netsuite-open-womens-draw/ |title=Amanda Sobhy and Ramy Ashour Win NetSuite Open |publisher=US Squash |date=September 29, 2015 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref>

In January 2016, Sobhy became the first American to ever reach the finals of the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions,<ref>{{cite news |author=Davis, Noah |title=Rising Squash Star Has Triumphant Week Despite Loss in Tournament Final |work=The New York Times |date=January 15, 2016 |page=B9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Burke, Brad |url=https://tocsquash.com/news-posts/2016-toc-finalist-amanda-sobhy-will-meet-the-media/ |title=2016 TOC Finalist Amanda Sobhy Will Meet the Media |date=December 6, 2016 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> which she lost facing Egypt's Nour El Sherbini.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Davis|first=Noah|date=2016-01-15|title=Rising Squash Star Has Triumphant Week Despite Loss in Tournament Final (Published 2016)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/15/sports/rising-squash-star-has-triumphant-week-despite-loss-in-tournament-final.html|access-date=2020-12-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In August 2016, Sobhy reached the finals of the Hong Kong Open, finishing runner-up to Nouran Gohar.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open 2016 Results - Women|url=https://psaworldtour.com/tournaments/view/6372?tab=womens_results|access-date=2020-12-12|website=PSA World Tour}}</ref>

Sobhy tore her Achilles tendon on her left leg in March 2017 during the semifinals of a tournament in Colombia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.squashsite.co.uk/2016/floridablanca2017.htm |title=Ciudad de Floridablanca Squash 2017 Colombia |website=www.squashsite.co.uk |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ussquash.com/amanda-sobhy-undergoes-successful-achilles-surgery/ |title=Amanda Sobhy Undergoes Successful Achilles Surgery |publisher=USA Squash |date=March 21, 2017 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.excellesports.com/news/squash-amanda-sobhy-achilles-surgery/ |title=Sports Injuries: Squash's Amanda Sobhy reveals how she found happiness after Achilles surgery |date=April 25, 2017 |work=Excelle Sports |access-date=April 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429222921/http://www.excellesports.com/news/squash-amanda-sobhy-achilles-surgery/ |archive-date=April 29, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> She returned to play after 10 months at the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions in January 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.eurosport.com/squash/former-usa-no1-amanda-sobhy-returns-to-squash-in-new-york-after-10-month-injury-absence_sto6484319/story.shtml |title=Former USA No1 Amanda Sobhy returns to squash in New York after 10-month injury absence |date=January 18, 2018 |work=Eurosport |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref>

In 2018, Sobhy won her fourth US National Title at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, defeating Reeham Sedky 11–6, 11–8, 11–4.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ussquash.com/amanda-sobhy-claims-fourth-national-title-on-one-year-anniversary-of-injury/ |title=Amanda Sobhy Claims Fourth National Title on One Year Anniversary of Injury |publisher=US Squash |date=March 10, 2018 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref>

Sobhy won the J Warren Young Memorial Texas Open in 2019, beating England's Victoria Lust in the final.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sobhy Wins Fifteenth and Largest PSA Title in Texas {{!}} US Squash|url=https://ussquash.org/2019/03/sobhy-wins-fifteenth-and-largest-psa-title-in-texas/|access-date=2020-12-12|website=US Squash|date=31 March 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref> In September the same year, she reached the final of the Open de France - Nantes, but lost against Camille Serme of France.<ref>{{Cite web|title=France's Serme and New Zealand's Coll Reign Supreme At Open de France - Nantes - Professional Squash Association|url=https://psaworldtour.com/news/view/6692/france-s-serme-and-new-zealand-s-coll-reign-supreme-at-open-de-france-nantes|access-date=2020-12-12|website=PSA World Tour|date=15 September 2019 }}</ref>

In 2020, Sobhy won the Cincinnati Cup, beating England's Sarah-Jane Perry in the final.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Amanda Sobhy Tops World No. 7 Perry in Cincinnati Cup Final {{!}} Team USA Squash|url=https://teamusasquash.com/2020/02/amanda-sobhy-tops-world-no-7-perry-in-cincinnati-cup-final/|access-date=2020-12-12|website=US Squash|date=25 February 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2022, she was part of the United States team that reached the final of the 2022 Women's World Team Squash Championships. It was the first time that the United States had reached the final.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldsquash.org/egypt-defeat-usa-in-thriller-to-retain-wsf-womens-world-team-championship/ |title=Egypt defeat USA in thriller to retain WSF Women's World Team Championship |website=World Squash |date=16 December 2022 |access-date=18 December 2022}}</ref> In May 2023, she reached the quarter final of the 2023 PSA Women's World Squash Championship, before losing to number 3 seed Hania El Hammamy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://worldsquashchamps.com/draws/ |title=2023 World Championship draws |website=PSA |date=9 November 2017 |access-date=9 May 2023}}</ref>

In December 2023, Sobhy ruptured her Achilles tendon on her right leg at the Hong Kong Open. She underwent surgery in New York.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Aleks Phillips U. S. News |date=2023-12-25 |title=America's best squash player just won't quit |url=https://www.newsweek.com/americas-best-squash-player-amanda-sobhy-wont-quit-achilles-injury-1854634 |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref>

In December 2024, Sobhy helped the United States win the silver medal at the 2024 Women's World Team Squash Championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldsquash.org/egypt-complete-historic-clean-sweep-of-wsf-world-squash-team-championship-titles/ |title=Egypt complete historic clean sweep of WSF World Squash Team Championship titles |website=World Squash | date=18 December 2024 |access-date=20 December 2024 }}</ref>

In March 2025, Sobhy won her 21st PSA title after securing victory in the German Open during the 2024–25 PSA Squash Tour and then won her 22nd after winning the Squash On Fire Open.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thesquashsite.com/german-open-2025 |title=German Open 2025 : It's Victor and Amanda ! |website=The Squash Site |access-date=17 March 2025 }}</ref>The following season during the 2025–26 PSA Squash Tour, Sobhy won the Cincinnati Cup.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.squashinfo.com/events/11577-womens-cincinnati-cup-2026 |title=$86,250 Women's Gaynor Cincinnati Cup 2026, Cincinnati Country Club, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA |website=Squash Info |access-date=1 March 2026}}</ref>

== Personal life == Sobhy serves on the board of the Squash Education Alliance, and is heavily involved in various urban squash programs. On January 21, 2019, after many years playing for Harrow Sports, Sobhy signed a long-term contract with HEAD, the global sporting brand with a focus on delivering high-performance products across a variety of athletic disciplines.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.head.com/us-US/news-detail/title/head-signs-amanda-sobhy-the-great-hope-of-american-squash/ |title=Head signs Amanda Sobhy, the great hope of American Squash |publisher=HEAD |date=January 21, 2019 |access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> She lives in Philadelphia.

Sobhy's family, including her brother, Omar and sister Sabrina, are all squash players. Before picking up squash, Sobhy played tennis, admiring Venus and Serena Williams. She began playing squash at the age of eleven, winning the first tournament she ever entered.{{fact|date=May 2022}}

Amanda and Sabrina have been referred to as "The Williams Sisters of Squash."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sabrina Sobhy |url=http://www.gocrimson.com/sports/wsquash/2017-18/bios/sobhy_sabrina_2f21?view=bio |access-date=September 13, 2024 |website=Harvard |language=en}}</ref>

==Major World Series final appearances==

===Tournament of Champions: 2 finals (0 title, 2 runner-ups)===

{| class="sortable wikitable" !width="100"| Outcome !width="50"| Year !width="200"| Opponent in the final !width="200"| Score in the final |- | bgcolor="ffa07a"|Runner-up||2016||{{flagicon|EGY}} Nour El Sherbini || 11–4, 9–11, 12–10, 11–8 |- | bgcolor="ffa07a"|Runner-up||2022||{{flagicon|EGY}} Nouran Gohar || 11–7, 11–7, 11–3 |}

===Hong Kong Open: 1 final (0 title, 1 runner-up)===

{| class="sortable wikitable" !width="100"| Outcome !width="50"| Year !width="200"| Opponent in the final !width="200"| Score in the final |- | bgcolor="ffa07a"|Runner-up||2016 || {{flagicon|EGY}} Nouran Gohar || 6–11, 12–10, 11–7, 11–8 |}

===CIB Black Ball Open: 1 final (0 title, 1 runner-up)===

{| class="sortable wikitable" !width="100"| Outcome !width="50"| Year !width="200"| Opponent in the final !width="200"| Score in the final |- | bgcolor="ffa07a"|Runner-up|| 2021 || {{flagicon|EGY}} Nour El Sherbini || 13–11, 11–5, 6–11, 11–7 |}

== See also == Official Women's Squash World Ranking

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{WISPA|T00942}} * {{WSA|amanda-sobhy}} * {{Squash Info|4697}}

{{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{s-bef|before=Sarah-Jane Perry}} {{s-ttl|title=PSA Women's Young Player of the Year|years=2014}} {{s-aft|after=Current holder}} {{s-end}}

{{Top ten squash players|psasingles=y}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sobhy, Amanda}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:American female squash players Category:American people of Egyptian descent Category:People from Sea Cliff, New York Category:Sportspeople from Nassau County, New York Category:Harvard Crimson women's squash players Category:21st-century American sportswomen Category:Squash players at the 2015 Pan American Games Category:Squash players at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:Squash players at the 2023 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2015 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2023 Pan American Games Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in squash Category:Pan American Games silver medalists for the United States in squash Category:Harvard University alumni