Shabana & Ricketts In Windy City Final

Australian Anthony Ricketts recorded a stunning four-game semi-final victory over Egyptian teenage star Ramy Ashour to reach the final of the Infor Windy City Open in Chicago, where he will meet another Egyptian, top seed Amr Shabana who despatched Scotland's John White in straight games.

Ricketts, the fifth seed from Sydney, is enjoying a notable return to form in the second PSA Super Series Silver event of the year in the USA. The 27-year-old made his breakthrough by defeating fellow countryman David Palmer, the second seed and defending champion, in the previous round.

Ashour, however, arrived in the Windy City having just collected the first Super Series crown of his career in the PACE Canadian Classic in Toronto - where he beat Ricketts for the third time in two months!

After surviving a tie-break in the first game, UK-based Ricketts went on to beat Ashour 11-10 (2-0), 11-3, 8-11, 11-8 in 61 minutes.

"It was a fantastic game of squash," Ricketts told www.squashsite.co.uk. "I've lost the last three times I've played him, and he has been a fantastic winner. Today, he has proven that he knows how to lose too, and I have a lot of respect for him - he knows how to take it.

"With Ramy, you've got to stick with it with every point. Last week in Toronto, I had the lead, but I let it slip away, like I did with Peter Nicol in Kuwait two years ago," added Ricketts, now in his 15th PSA Tour final.

Amr Shabana notched up his 21st PSA Tour final appearance after beating John White 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 in 30 minutes. The hard-hitting Scot, now based in the US, was clearly feeling the effects of his impressive five-game upset over Frenchman Gregory Gaultier, the world No3, 24 hours earlier.

Semi-finals:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [8] John White (SCO) 11-3, 11-6, 11-7 (30m)
[5] Anthony Ricketts (AUS) bt [6] Ramy Ashour (EGY) 11-10 (2-0), 11-3, 8-11, 11-8 (61m)