Shabana & David In Sight Of Hong Kong Hat-Tricks

Top seeds Amr Shabana and Nicol David are both now just one match away from third successive title victories in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open after impressive semi-final wins today on an all-glass court at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza in Hong Kong.

In the opening semi-final of the men's $145,000 PSA Super Series Platinum event, Shabana recovered from a game down to overcome Tour rival Thierry Lincou 7-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 in 45 minutes. The world number one from Egypt is now in the 33rd PSA Tour final of his career and his sixth this year.

Later, second-seeded Frenchman Gregory Gaultier ended a two-match winning Tour run by Englishman James Willstrop when he beat the third seed 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-2 in 61 minutes.

The win takes the 25-year-old from Aix-en-Provence into his 29th Tour final - and a repeat of last year's final clash with Shabana.

There was a surprise in the second semi-final in the women's $104,000 WISPA World Tour Platinum event when Australia's third seed Rachael Grinham dismissed her second-seeded younger sister Natalie Grinham 11-1, 11-7, 11-6 in just 24 minutes to make the Hong Kong final for the first time in her fourth attempt.

Nicol David, the world number one from Malaysia looking for her tenth Tour title this year, took 39 minutes to overhaul Natalie Grainger, the fourth seed from the USA, 11-8, 11-9, 11-5.

The win takes David into the 48th WISPA final of her career.

Men's semi-finals:
[1] Amr Shabana (EGY) bt [8] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 7-11, 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 (45m)
[2] Gregory Gaultier (FRA) bt [3] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-4, 8-11, 11-7, 11-2 (61m)

Women's semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [4] Natalie Grainger (USA) 11-8, 11-9, 11-5 (39m)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [2] Natalie Grinham (NED) 11-1, 11-7, 11-6 (24m)