Waters & El Sherbini In Bid For Heights Casino Jackpot

England's Alison Waters pulled off the result of the night, and one of her biggest wins in recent months, when she downed US Open champion Camille Serme in a thrilling five-game battle to secure a place in the final of the 2016 Carol Weymuller Open at Heights Casino in New York - where she will face Egypt's world No.1 Nour El Sherbini for the PSA W50 title.

Londoner Waters, the 2014 Weymuller champion, came through a tough encounter with New Zealand's Joelle King to reach the last four but showed no signs of fatigue as she came out full of attacking intent against Frenchwoman Serme, the 2013 runner-up who had secured her semi-final spot courtesy of a routine 3/0 win over Annie Au.

The match started at a blistering pace, with both players attacking and utilising all four corners on the court to stretch their opponent as they matched each point for point all the way to 10-9, when it was Waters who struck the first blow. The third-seeded Englishwoman then looked to be in cruise control as she edged 8-3 ahead in the second only to see Serme, the No.2 seed, claw her way back into contention and level the match via a tense 12-10 tie-break.

From then on they traded points back and forth, sharing the third and fourth games, to set up a nail-biting decider during which it was Waters who stepped up to dominate the T, taking six consecutive points from 4-4 to hold match balls at 10-4 and eventually complete the win at the fifth opportunity.

"I'm obviously delighted to have won and to have backed up yesterday's match," said Waters, now in her 23rd PSA World Tour final.

"I'm happy to see the work I have done over the summer come into play. I felt like I was thinking more about me and controlling the pace and not just letting her get into her rhythm, which she is so strong at.

"I'm looking forward to being in the final tomorrow and I'm really enjoying being here in Brooklyn."

In the second semi-final it was World Champion El Sherbini who emerged triumphant in straight games, but she was made to work hard by opponent Sarah-Jane Perry.

The seventh-seeded Englishwoman reached the last four after upsetting No.4 seed Joshna Chinappa and stood toe-to-toe with El Sherbini for long stints in the match, none more so than when she fought back from 6-1 down in the first to force a tie-break. But Perry was unable to find a killer blow to get a game on the board as El Sherbini kept her title defence alive.

"I'm definitely happy to be back in the final again this year," said 20-year-old El Sherbini on the eve of her 17th Tour final.

"Today the first game was important. I always seem to have a tough first game!

"I'm looking forward to the final. I played Alison last week so I know it will be hard but I'm just happy to be back in the final."

Whilst Sherbini won their most recent encounter, in this month's US Open quarter-finals, it is Waters who leads the pair's career head-to-head record since 2012 by a 4/2 margin.

Carol Weymuller image courtesy of Jean Ervasti