World Number Ones Face Surprises In Hong Kong Finals

World number ones Amr Shabana and Nicol David reached the finals the Cathay Pacific Swiss Privilege Hong Kong Open at the Hollywood Plaza as predicted by the seedings, but their opponents caused major surprises to join them - unseeded Egyptian teenager Ramy Ashour continuing his genuinely 'giant-killing' run in the event to beat Australia's second seed David Palmer and seventh seed Tania Bailey despatching her higher-ranked English compatriot Vicky Botwright in the women's semi-finals.

With each shock victory in the men's PSA Super Series Platinum event, Ashour has collected a bigger scalp. And his four-game victory over Palmer, the world No2, neatly sets up the 19-year-old from Cairo with a chance at the ultimate prize - the world number one!

Ashour was in rampant form as he dismissed Palmer 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 - a 55-minute victory by the world junior champion over his senior equivalent.

"I can't express my feelings, I'm so happy. He's a great player and to beat him is fantastic," Ashour told www.squashsite.co.uk afterwards. "I had a feeling I could do well in this tournament - not winning it or even getting to the final - but to do that is just unbelievable.

"Now I have to play my hero, friend and mentor, Amr Shabana," added Ashour on the eve of his maiden Super Series final.

Shabana twice had to come from behind to defeat England's James Willstrop, the No4 seed, in the other semi. The two-times world champion ultimately prevailed 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 in 76 minutes to reach his 18th PSA Tour final - and his fourth this year.

Tania Bailey swept to a 9-1, 9-7, 9-7 victory in 57 minutes over fifth seed Botwright - to reach the biggest final of her career while becoming the only player in the women's WISPA Platinum event to prevail without dropping a game.

The win is the latest affirmation that Bailey has finally overcome the long period of injury and illness which disrupted her career since achieving her career-high world No3 ranking in March 2003. "I have reached a Gold standard final before but this is the first time I have ever reached the final of a Platinum standard event," Bailey told www.squashnow.com.

"Perhaps, more importantly, I cannot remember the last time I had to play five matches back-to-back in a tournament and I am coming up for each one in good shape."

The 27-year-old British National champion from Lincolnshire will now face Nicol David, the Malaysian world champion who was given her toughest test in the event so far before beating rival Rachael Grinham, the No3 seed from Australia, 2-9, 9-6, 6-9, 9-5, 9-1 in 61 minutes.

It was the pair's sixth WISPA meeting this year, but marked David's 21st successive match win on the Tour. Victory in the Hong Kong final would gave the 23-year-old from Penang her fifth successive WISPA title.

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [4] James Willstrop (ENG) 9-11, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 11-9 (76m)
Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [2] David Palmer (AUS) 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 (55m)

Women's semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 2-9, 9-6, 6-9, 9-5, 9-1 (61m)
[7] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [5] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 9-1, 9-7, 9-7 (57m)