Upsets Galore As Mosaad & Gaultier Set Up Shock US Open Final

Egypt's Omar Mosaad and Frenchman Gregory Gaultier will line up in a surprise men's Delaware Investments US Open final after world No.6 Mosaad knocked out three-time world champion Nick Matthew and world No.3 Gaultier despatched defending champion Mohamed Elshorbagy, the world No.1, in the semi-finals of the PSA World Series event in Philadelphia.

Mosaad celebrated the biggest win of his career at Drexel University as he recorded his first ever victory over Matthew in twelve attempts to reach the final of a PSA World Series event for the first time.

The 27-year-old from Cairo played with composure and control as he prevailed 11-9, 2-11, 11-5, 11-7 in a 65-minute victory that was made all the more poignant for the powerful Mosaad as it came just two months after the tragic death of his mother and sister in a car accident in Egypt.

"Reaching the final of a World Series event for the first time in my life means an awful lot to me," said Mosaad.

"Beating Nick for the first time, in my first ever World Series semi-final, is an amazing feeling and I feel like I've been playing really well this event and I've been trying very hard to improve recently.

"Before the season my family had an accident and I lost two of them and when I was playing in Macau earlier in the season I was confused and not focused.

"After that I worked hard with my coaches who did a great job with me in helping me stay focused on being inside the court and it's really been working well this tournament and we will see what happens tomorrow."

The man known as the 'Hammer of Thor' will now face 2006 & 2013 champion Gaultier in the showpiece finale after the 32-year-old Frenchman ended a five match losing streak against Elshorbagy in breathtaking fashion - winning a dramatic 76-minute semi-final.

The match-up, their 15th on the PSA World Tour, was a repeat of the 2014 semi-final - when Elshorbagy triumphed in straight-games to knock the Frenchman off the top of the world rankings to occupy the No.1 slot for the first time in his career.

"It seems like I play well here at the US Open," said Gaultier.

"I've won this title and few times and made the final as well but last year I lost to Mohamed at this stage when he was chasing me at the top of the rankings so I'm happy that it was my turn today.

"He has beaten me the last few times we have played but I've been very close the last couple of times especially. I analysed those matches with my team and I knew what I had to do and I feel like I played quite well today."

In the women's event England's Laura Massaro maintained her bid to win the prestigious US Open title for the second time in her career with an accomplished 3/0 win over Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy.

The 31-year-old from Preston triumphed in 2011 and finished as runner-up in 2013 - the year the US Open made history by becoming the first PSA World Series event to offer equal prize money to men and women.

Massaro, bidding for her first major World Tour title since winning the 2013 World Championship, will compete against Nour El Tayeb in the final.

World No.8 El Tayeb continued her giant-killing form, beating France's world No.3 Camille Serme just 48 hours after ousting compatriot Raneem El Welily, the world No.1.

"I'm really pleased with how I played this evening and I'm thrilled to be in a major final once again," said Massaro.

"I'm enjoying my squash at the moment and I think having such a tough match and beating Nicol yesterday took some pressure off me. I've felt relaxed all day and that certainly helped tonight.

"I've watched Nour play this week and she's in great form," added Massaro. "It's a major final and I'm really excited for it. There won't be any pressure on me so I'm just looking forward to it."

US Open image courtesy of www.squashpics.com