Dream Finals Await Kuwait Open Crowds

The world's richest squash tournament has reached a fitting climax with an all-Egyptian men's final of the Sheikha Al Saad Kuwait Open featuring the world number one Amr Shabana and the sport's latest teenage star Ramy Ashour, and the women's final at the Al Qadsia Sports Centre in Kuwait City boasting the world's top two players Nicol David and Natalie Grinham.

Shabana, the 27-year-old from Cairo who is seeded to pick up his third PSA Super Series crown of the year in Kuwait, was taken to four games by World Open champion David Palmer, the third seed. But the Australian, who was taken to five games in an 81-minute marathon by British Open champion Nick Matthew 24 hours earlier, will be unable to repeat his title victory of 2005 after the Egyptian clinched his 11-7, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6 victory after 67 minutes.

"I felt a bit flat at the start after last night's match, maybe 10% down - but you can't afford to be 1% down against him," Palmer told www.squashsite.co.uk afterwards. "I felt I was always playing catch-up, but I did my best and hung in there as long as I could."

Shabana, now in his 23rd PSA Tour final, added: "I could feel that he was a little tired, but then he got his second wind at the end of the third, and I thought 'oh my god, you're always more dangerous when you've got your second wind'."

The other men's semi-final saw the brave run of Scotland's 33-year-old John White come to an end after his battle with Ramy Ashour, some 14 years younger!

The 19-year-old fourth seed from Cairo took the opening game, but a determined effort from the former world number one who reached last month's Canary Wharf Classic final in London saw White level the match. The eleventh-seeded Scot continued to test the irrepressible Ashour, but the teenager battled on to win 11-3, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 in 52 minutes.

"He played really well, he was going for everything and I had to really push to bring him back into my game," said Ashour, celebrating his eighth Tour final. "The last two times we played it was 3/2, but this one was much harder - it was really enjoyable too."

White agreed: "It was enjoyable, but unfortunately that's what happens when you play a 19-year-old with plenty of energy - he needs to conserve some!"

The final will be Shabana and Ashour's fourth Tour meeting since October 2006, with the younger Egyptian seeking his maiden win.

Malaysia's top seed Nicol David, unbeaten since March 2006, chalked up her 42nd successive international win when she beat USA's No6 seed Natalie Grainger 9-4, 9-0, 9-2 in 30 minutes. The 23-year-old world number one from Penang was in commanding form against the experienced 29-year-old who has recently become a US citizen.

"I knew that I had to be on, you can't give her any room, even a slight opening and she goes for it," said the Malaysian favourite afterwards. "I'm pleased with my game, I'm getting more comfortable on the court and my body is getting more comfortable too."

In the other semi, second seed Natalie Grinham faced her toughest opponent so far in Vicky Botwright - but still managed to be the only player to reach the final without dropping a game when she beat the fifth seed from England 9-4, 9-1, 9-3.

"I thought I played OK in patches, but she was just too good tonight," said Botwright, the world number five from Manchester. "I was feeling the pressure and felt a bit tired, but even at the end I was hitting some good shots - but they just kept coming back."

Grinham junior, ranked two in the world, added: "I was really focused out there and I thought I played well. Hoping not to let anyone down tomorrow and hope we have another good match."

The final will mark Nicol David's 30th on the WISPA World Tour - and the 21st for Natalie Grinham. But the pair have provided some of the Tour's most stunning recent clashes - including a 95-minute five-game epic World Open final in Belfast in November, followed by a 102-minute five-game marathon Kuala Lumpur Open climax last month in David's home country! In their 11 meetings since November 2003, David leads by a 6/5 margin.

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [3] David Palmer (AUS) 11-7, 11-3, 8-11, 11-6 (67m)
[4] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [11] John White (SCO) 11-3, 8-11, 11-9, 11-9 (52m)

Women's semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [6] Natalie Grainger (USA) 9-4, 9-0, 9-2 (30m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [5] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 9-4, 9-1, 9-3 (30m)