World number two Mohamed ElShorbagy of Egypt is targeting a fourth PSA U.S. Open title in Philadelphia ©PSA

Mohamed ElShorbagy and Raneem El Welily got their respectively title defences off to a winning start in round two of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) U.S. Open Squash Championship in Philadelphia.

The Egyptian duo booked their spots in round three at the PSA World Tour Platinum event at Drexel University Daskalakis Athletic Center with very different routes to victory.

Three-time champion ElShorbagy was pushed to four games by Borja Golan of Spain, while women's world number one El Welily needed just 23 minutes to defeat compatriot Nadine Shahin.

ElShorbagy took the opening game 11-8, only for Golan to level the match in the second game.

It was the second seed who reverted to form and took the next two games to win 11-8, 5-11, 11-7, 11-9.

"When you play Borja, it is always going to be tough," said ElShorbagy.

"He is one of those players that if you are going to take them out, you have to fight for every point. 

"He is so experienced, he knew what time to change the ball, what time to slow the pace and when to play at a faster pace.

"I finish every season ask myself what went wrong and what I need to work on. 

"I want to be back at [world] number one again, I don’t want any other number but number one.

"I’m going after that spot big time this season."

Egyptian world number one Raneem El Welily needed just 23 minutes to book her place in round three ©PSA
Egyptian world number one Raneem El Welily needed just 23 minutes to book her place in round three ©PSA

Compatriot Ali Farag holds the position ElShorbagy craves and showed no signs of relinquishing his grasp at the top of the world rankings.

He reached the third round with an 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 victory against England's Daryl Selby.

The passage into tomorrow's round three was even smoother for El Welily, who claimed an 11-5, 11-4, 11-5 win against Shahin.

She is set to face 15th seed Yathreb Adel from Egypt next after she came through a five-game thriller against England's Julianne Courtice 11-3, 11-9, 6-11, 4-11, 11-5.

The biggest upset of the day saw world number 48 Sivasangari Subramaniam defeat 10th seed Alison Waters from England 11-5, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9.

American hopes lie in Amanda Sobhy, who overcame compatriot Olivia Fletcher despite struggling with an adductor strain.

Sobhy progressed on an 11-4, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7 scoreline and is now due to meet Joshna Chinappa from India in the third round.

Chinappa won 7-11, 11-3, 11-6, 10-12, 11-9 against Australian Donna Lobban.

The third round is scheduled to be played tomorrow and Tuesday (October).