Qualifier Shoukry Makes Windy City Semis

Egyptian qualifier Andrew Wagih Shoukry fought for 90 minutes in the quarter-finals of the Metro Squash Windy City Open to pull off an impressive upset over fourth seed Max Lee to reach the last four of the long-established PSA World Tour International 25 squash event at the University Club of Chicago in Chicago, USA.

In a clash described as 'the match of the tournament', underdog Shoukry showed no signs of his 74-minute battle 24 hours earlier as he took the first two games against his Hong Kong opponent ranked 32 in the world - then had two match-balls at 10-8 in the third.

"But Lee responded with two nicks in a row and then took the game," said spokesman William James. The 22-year-old from Cairo began to look more and more tired as Lee took the fourth game to draw level.

"But somehow, he not only continued, but continued to win rallies," James continued. "At 7-7 in the fifth Lee hit Shoukry in the head with the butt of his racquet, and Shoukry looked hurt. But when he stood up, he hit a winner, and Lee followed with two straight tins, which was completely out of character for him. 10-8...two more match balls...an unreachable cross-court...it was over...standing ovation."

The shock 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-7 win takes world No57 Shoukry on to face top seed Borja Golan for a place in the final. Spaniard Golan, ranked 10 in the world, dismissed Egyptian teenager Karim Ali Fathi 11-6, 11-6, 11-3.

The other semi will see third-seeded Scot Alan Clyne take on in-form South African Stephen Coppinger.

World No27 Clyne ended qualifier Matthew Karwalski's run, beating the Australian 7-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-13, 11-6.

Second seed Coppinger, who earlier in the day became his country's first world top 20 player for over three decades, took just 25 minutes to quash Mexican Cesar Salazar 11-2, 11-3, 11-4.

Semi-final line-up:
[1] Borja Golan (ESP) v [Q] Andrew Wagih Shoukry (EGY)
[2] Stephen Coppinger (RSA) v [3] Alan Clyne (SCO)

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