Nour El Sherbini will begin as favourite in Saudi Arabia ©PSA

World number one Nour El Sherbini will start as a strong favourite for the Saudi Women’s Masters when the competition begins tomorrow.

The Egyptian faces France’s Coline Aumard in the first round of the Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournament, the first professional women’s squash event to take place in Saudi Arabia.

A total of 32 players are featuring, with as many as 12 different nationalities represented.

The host nation will be represented by Nada Abo Alnaja, who has been given a wildcard into the event.

She will face a stern test in the form of France’s Camille Serme, who is ranked as the tournament’s second seed.

World champion Raneem El Welily, of Egypt, is scheduled to face Belgium’s Nele Gilis in her opening tie of the day.

World champion Nouran Gohar could be in contention ©Getty Images
World champion Nouran Gohar could be in contention ©Getty Images

Her compatriot Nouran Gohar, the world number five, has been drawn against Australia’s former world champion Rachael Grinham.

Players will be hoping to secure a part of the $165,000 (£122,000/€137,000) prize fund on offer in Saudi Arabia’s capital city Riyadh.

Competition will run until January 12, with players also hoping to claim vital points in the PSA World Series Standings.

The top eight players in the standings at the end of the season will guarantee their participation at the PSA World Series Finals in June.