Egyptians Home In On Houston Title

Frenchman Laurent Elriani will be trying to prevent an all-Egyptian climax to the BCD & SMH Houston Open after three Egyptians fought through to the semi-finals of the PSA Tour squash event at the Downtown Club in Houston in the US state of Texas.

Sixth seed Elriani pulled off his best result of the year when he upset Australia's No4 seed Tony James 11-7, 11-7, 11-3. The 31-year-old - who is now based in Greenwich, USA - will face top seed Omar Elborolossy for a place in the final.

Elborolossy, the former world No14 from Cairo - who is also 31 - defeated fifth-seeded Australian Bradley Hindle 11-4, 11-7, 11-6.

New York-based Egyptian Ahmed Maged Hamza will face fellow countryman Mohd Ali Anwar Reda in the other semi.

Hamza, again a 31-year-old, ended fellow qualifier Gilly Lane's run - beating the 21-year-old from Philadelphia 11-7, 11-8, 11-5.

Local interest in the event faded when former Houston-based Ryan Donegan lost out to second seed Mohd Ali Anwar Reda in an 11-7, 11-9, 11-10 (3-1) scoreline.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Omar Elborolossy (EGY) bt [5] Bradley Hindle (AUS) 11-4, 11-7, 11-6
[6] Laurent Elriani (FRA) bt [4] Tony James (AUS) 11-7, 11-7, 11-3
[Q] Ahmed Maged Hamza (EGY) bt [Q] Gilly Lane (USA) 11-7, 11-8, 11-5
[2] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) bt Ryan Donegan (USA) 11-7, 11-9, 11-10 (3-1)