Joe Lee Becomes First British Junior Open Finalist In Four Years

Joe Lee has become England's first British Junior Open finalist for four years after beating Germany's Norman Junge 9-1 9-3 9-1 in the semi-finals of the U17 event in Sheffield. The 16-year-old from West Molesey in Surrey, who was seeded only to reach the quarter-finals, will meet Egypt's second seed Mohamed Ali Anwar Reda in the final of the Powerplaysports-sponsored event at Abbeydale Park.

"I've only reached the last 16 in the British Junior Open before, so I'm definitely looking forward to playing the final," said the jubilant son of former England junior international Danny Lee after his semi-final triumph.

Joe Lee - the first English British Junior Open finalist since James Willstrop (now ranked six in the world) won the U19 crown in 2002 - is the lowest seed to reach any of the eight finals this year.

Domestic interest in the U19 events expired with the defeats of both Chris Simpson and Rachel Willmott. Simpson, the European Junior champion from Brighton, took a game from Aamir Atlas Khan in the men's semi-finals, but the second-seeded Pakistani ultimately claimed a 9-7 6-9 9-6 10-8 victory.

Willmott, the 17-year-old six-times national junior champion from Horsham in Sussex, lost out 9-3 9-6 9-1 to event favourite Raneem El Weleily, the 17-year-old Egyptian who is already ranked 36 in the world. El-Weleily will face compatriot Lina El Tannir in one of three all-Egyptian finals.

Men's U19 semi-finals:
[1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt [5/8] Omar Mosaad (EGY) 9-3, 9-6, 8-10, 9-4
[2] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [3/4] Chris Simpson (ENG) 9-7, 6-9, 9-6, 10-8

Women's U19 semi-finals:
[1] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [3/4] Rachel Willmott (ENG) 9-3, 9-6, 9-1
[2] Lina El Tannir (EGY) bt [3/4] Nehal Yehia (EGY) 4-9, 5-9, 9-3, 9-5, 9-5

Men's U17 semi-finals:
[5/8] Joe Lee (ENG) bt [9/16] Norman Junge (GER) 9-1, 9-3, 9-1
[2] Mohamed Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) bt [3/4] Shohaib Hassan (PAK) 10-8, 9-5, 9-5

Women's U17 semi-finals:
[1] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [3/4] Alia Balbaa (EGY) 3-9, 9-6, 9-2, 9-5
[3/4] Wee Wern Low (MAS) bt [2] Nour Mohsen (EGY) 3-9, 9-6, 9-4, 9-1

Men's U15 semi-finals:
[1] Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) bt [3/4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) 7-9, 6-9, 9-4, 9-7, 9-4
[3/4] Adel Mohamed El Zarka (EGY) bt [2] Farhan Zaman (PAK) 9-6, 9-5, 5-9, 9-4

Women's U15 semi-finals:
[1] Heba El Torky (EGY) bt Nouran El Torky (EGY) 9-5, 9-7, 9-6
[3/4] Laura Gemmell (CAN) bt [9/16] Liu Tsz Ling (HKG) 9-2, 9-2, 9-1

Men's U13 semi-finals:
[3/4] Hamza Bokhari (PAK) bt [1] Mohamed Abou El Ghar (EGY) 9-5, 8-10, 9-7, 9-4
[3/4] Karim Fathy (EGY) bt [2] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) 9-1, 9-1, 5-9, 9-4

Women's U13 quarter-finals:
[1] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt Fatma Mohamed Zarka (EGY) 9-3, 9-2, 9-5
[3/4] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [5/8] Sophie Lemom (ENG) 9-3, 9-2, 9-3
[3/4] Yan Xin Tan (MAS) bt Salma Esmat (EGY) 9-1, 9-2, 9-1
[2] Menat Allah Naser (EGY) bt [5/8] Anaka Alankamony (IND) 9-0, 3-9, 9-4, 9-0