(Photo PSA)
Eight-time World Champion Nour ElSherbini recovered from 2-1 down to defeat two-time champion Hania El Hammamy 3-2 for a place in the final against Olivia Weaver at the Hong Kong Open squash championships.
The clash was a repeat of the 2022 final, where El Hammamy edged an 89-minute epic 3-2 against the ‘Warrior Princess’ to claim the first of her two titles in Hong Kong.
El Hammamy triumphed in their last meeting when they locked horns for the Qatar Classic title, and it was the World No.2’s composure and abilty to capitalise on loose shots from ElSherbini to draw first blood.
After a slow start from ElSherbini, the former World No.1 was much improved in the second as she utilised the backhand hold to great effect to catch El Hammamy out on a number of occasions as she edged it 11-9 to restore parity.
Errors from ElSherbini’s racket flowed again in the third, though, as she was unable to keep the ball out of the tin as El Hammamy regained her match lead.
The momentum once again shifted back in ElSherbini’s favour in the fourth, as she stepped up the court more to clinch the fourth 11-7 to level once again.
The decider was much more fragmented, as El Hammamy first injured her ankle which halted proceedings for three minutes before she fell and hit her head on the floor for another brief pause in play. But ElSherbini closed out the fifth 11-3 once played resumed to progress to the final.
“I’m definitely very happy to win this match,” she said.
“Hania is amazing, she’s such a fighter and you can see she’s been struggling with her ankle and hitting her head but she still came to fight and try for every point.
“It’s always a pleasure being on court with her and a pleasure beating her and playing with her. She’s been in form so it’s been a big plus for me to beat her.
“I don’t have the best memories here in Hong Kong but hopefully this time it’s going to turn out to be a good one. I’m happy to be back in the final and hopefully I’m one step closer this time.”
No.4 seed Olivia Weaver advanced to her first Platinum final defeating Japanese No.1 Satomi Watanabe in four games.
The US No.1 overcame the Japanese No.1 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7 to become the first American to reach a Platinum final since Amanda Sobhy at this event in 2023.
Weaver started the match in rock-solid fashion, finding her lines and lengths and forcing Watanabe into a number of unforced errors through her relentless play. The American was busy on the ’T’ and across the short line, taking the first game 11-9.
Watanabe responded impressively in the second game, taking a more patient approach in her play before looking for her winners into the front of the court. This approach paid dividends as she levelled the match by an 11-6 scoreline after 22 minutes of play.
The match took another swing in momentum in the third game, with Weaver’s consistency seeing her move from 2-2 to a 7-4 lead. From there, the Philadelphia-born 30-year-old restored her lead in the match to within a game of the final.
Weaver picked up where she left off at the beginning of the fourth, racing into a 4-0 lead with some crisp hitting down both wings. Despite Watanabe managing to draw level in the mid-stages of the game, Weaver managed to hang tough to claim her first Platinum semi-final win at the 12th time of asking.
After the match, Weaver said: “I think I was really excited for the opportunity today. I knew both of us were gonna come in feeling a little bit of pressure, a huge opportunity for both of us to try to reach our first Platinum final. It comes with the territory, so it was just about cracking on and trying to handle it as best as possible.
“Satomi played unbelievably well in phases today, but I’m happy about how I tweaked a few things and got back in front of her, so I’m really happy.”
In the men’s competition, no.8 seed Youssef Ibrahim progressed to his first Platinum final in almost four years after delivering a performance of the highest level to overcome World No.2 Paul Coll in four games.
Ibrahim, whose last Platinum final on the PSA Squash Tour ended in defeat against Coll back at the Windy City Open in March 2022, battled back from a game behind to defeat the Kiwi No.1 by a 3-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8 scoreline.
Coll started the match in supreme form, dominating the opening game with some clinical play and racing into a 1-0 lead after just seven minutes.
The 26-minute second game that followed would ultimately prove crucial in the outcome of the match, with Coll edging ahead to a 10-9 scoreline, before crucially slipping on game ball to offer Ibrahim a route back in. The subsequent tie-break had decisions aplenty and a blood injury break for Ibrahim, but it was the Egyptian who managed to clinch the second by a 13-11 scoreline.
Ibrahim only moved from strength to strength in the third game, producing some squash of the highest level to move away from 8-8 to move to within a game of the final.
The Egyptian continued to pepper the front two corners in the fourth game, with Coll unable to match the incredible attacking accuracy of ‘The Gunslinger’. Despite falling 4-1 behind in the fourth, Ibrahim won nine of the next 12 points to reach his third straight final on the PSA Squash Tour this season.
After the match, he said: “Today, in the first game I was totally outplayed and outclassed. The ball wasn’t very bouncy at the beginning of the match and he was just taking it short so early.
“The second game I had to really dig deep to get stuck into the match. I just tried to find a way to get through it and take my chances. And then I managed to find my way much better in the third and fourth.”
His opponent in the final will be none other than defending champion Mostafa Asal, who moved a step closer to retaining his crown after taking down Jonah Bryant in straight games.
The World No.1, who defeated Ali Farag in last year’s title decider to claim his second Hong Kong Open, produced another impressive performance to earn his spot in the final.
Asal and Bryant’s only previous meeting on the PSA Squash Tour came at the backend of last season when the World No.1 was tested by the young Englishman in round two of the GillenMarkets British Open.
The Egyptian required five games and 75 minutes to beat Bryant in Birmingham back in June, but only three were needed this evening in Hong Kong.
Bryant, appearing in his second straight Platinum semi-final, was unable to be proactive against Asal having been on the front foot against Leonel Cardenas in the quarter finals.
Excellent accuracy from Asal in the opening game helped him convert it 11-3, but Bryant began to ask more questions of his opponent in the second.
However Asal remained solid to double his match lead, before comfortably clinching the third 11-1 to march on to tomorrow’s final.
Afterwards, Asal said: “It means a lot. I’m feeling very comfortable here.
“The treatment is amazing, everyone is amazing and plenty of supporters here as well as friends and family.
“I’m really happy with the way I’m playing and I’m really enjoying it here.”
Semi-Final Results
Women’s: [4] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt [6] Satomi Watanabe (JPN) 3-1: 11-9, 6-11, 11-6, 11-7 (46m); [3] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt. [1] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) 3-2: 7-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 11-3 (69m)
Men’s: [8] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) bt [2] Paul Coll (NZL) 3-1: 3-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8 (64m)l; [1] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt. Jonah Bryant (ENG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-5, 11-1 (41m)
