Sabrina Shoby ousts Nele Gillis (Photo PSA)
USA’s Sabrina Sobhy will take on her compatriot Olivia Weaver in the final of Squash in the Land after ousting the tournament’s No.2 seed Nele Gilis at the UH Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute.
Sobhy, who’s on the comeback trail after returning from a wrist injury which kept her out of action on the PSA Squash Tour for a year, is through to her second title decider this season having tasted success at the St. James Expression Open 2025 in November.
The World No.36 has another shot at silverware tomorrow afternoon in Cleveland following a magnificent performance against Gilis, with her excellent movement and accuracy helping her win 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-3 to progress to the biggest final of her career to date.
“It’s definitely not easy [returning from injury]. Surrounding myself with a good team is the most important,” she said on court afterwards.
“There’s a lot of low periods of time and you really can’t do it on your own. As much as we’re all stubborn and strong individuals. As much as we’d like to, we can’t and I think leaning on a lot of people and the resources that we have.
“My team were the grounding forces that I needed to kind of get back to where I am now.”
US No.1 Weaver comprehensively earned her place in tomorrow’s final against her fellow countrywoman with a clinical display against Jasmine Hutton.
The tournament’s top seed advanced to her first final in Cleveland after downing the Englishwoman 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 in 26 minutes.
Meanwhile, 2024 champion Leonel Cardenas recovered from 1-0 down to defeat Greg Lobban 3-1.
Cardenas, who defeated Lobban in the semi finals two years ago on his way to lifting the title, toppled the Scotsman once again in the last four as he bids to claim a second crown in Cleveland.
The pair produced some entertaining squash throughout the 69-minute tussle, but it was Cardenas who held his nerve at the key moments to win 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5.
“Greg [Lobban] is an excellent player and he was tough to beat today as he has a lot of experience,” he said.
“It’s hard mentally and physically and you need to be ready to do well against him.”
Cardenas faces a stern test in tomorrow’s title decider, locking horns with No.1 seed Paul Coll after he fended off Gregoire Marche.
Despite a monumental 27-minute second game which Marche won to level the match, Coll was too clinical for the Frenchman as he triumphed 11-4, 12-14, 11-4, 11-1 in under an hour.
SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
Women’s: [1] Olivia Weaver (USA) bt. [3] Jasmine Hutton (ENG) 3-0: 11-3, 11-4, 11-4 (26m); Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt. [2] Nele Gilis (BEL) 3-1: 11-8, 11-5, 9-11, 11-3 (55m)
Results: [1] Paul Coll (NZL) bt. [3] Gregoire Marche (FRA) 3-1: 11-4, 12-14, 11-4, 11-1 (55m); [2] Leonel Cardenas (MEX) bt. [4] Greg Lobban (SCO) 3-1: 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 (69m)
