Abdel Kawy & Sobhy Going For Granite Glory

Egypt's top seed Omneya Abdel Kawy and US number one Amanda Sobhy will celebrate their maiden meeting on the WSA World Tour when they contest the final of the Women's Granite Open, the WSA Silver 25 squash event at Granite Club in Toronto, Canada.

The two former world junior champions - Kawy in 2003 and Sobhy in 2010 - reached the climax in highly contrasting styles: The 28-year-old from Cairo received a walkover after England's defending champion Sarah-Jane Perry sustained an ankle injury during her quarter-final match, whilst 20-year-old New Yorker Sobhy battled to a hard-fought four-game victory over 37-year-old Australian Rachael Grinham, the former world number one and world champion.

Incredibly, it was the second evening in a row in which Kawy progressed from the sidelines - after her quarter-final opponent Line Hansen was also forced to concede their match as a result of injury.

Kawy maintained her match fitness - and delighted the Granite crowd - by taking on club pro Samantha Cornett, the Canadian champion who had earlier reached the event's quarter-finals, in an exhibition match.

The sole semi-final marked Sobhy and Grinham's first meeting for almost two years. "Two clashing playing styles turned out to be tons of excitement for the spectators," explained tournament organiser Jessica DiMauro.

"Rachael chopped her drops in, flicked her lobs up and pushed her drives with tons of deception. Amanda volleyed everything she could, kept the pressure up and had enough patience to wait until Rachael's calculated drops just hit the top of the tin.

"Both girls are such unbelievable athletes. The match was clean, with only two lets called the entire time. The fans were hoping for a fifth, but Sobhy stayed strong and finished the match in four."

The Harvard student later told her Twitter followers: "Won a tough battle against Rachael Grinham in 4 tonight in the semis of the #GraniteOpen! Finals tomorrow against omneya! #letsgo #bigpush"

The 11-6, 11-7, 9-11, 11-5 victory takes world No17 Sobhy into the 12th WSA Tour final of her career, where she will be aiming for a remarkable 11th title success! By contrast, Abdel Kawy - ranked four places higher - is celebrating her 29th Tour final, and looking for her ninth title.

Grinham/Sobhy picture courtesy of Heba El Torky