Local Hero Amanda Sobhy Advances To ToC Semis

US squash star Amanda Sobhy scored another stunning upset at the JP Morgan Tournament of Champions at Grand Central Terminal in New York when she defeated England's 6th seed Alison Waters 12-10, 11-3, 11-9 to become the event's first home semi-finalist since 2006. The 22-year-old Harvard graduate had earlier eliminated the defending champion and top seed Raneem El Welily of Egypt.

Waters, a Toc finalist last year, had three game balls in the first game when she took a 10-7 lead. Undaunted, 10th seed Sobhy reeled off the next five points to snatch the game and take the upper hand in the match.

"I just told myself that I had to keep fighting on every point," said Sobhy. "I knew that if I won the first game, it would change the momentum in a big way," explained the the world No.8 who then dominated the second game, winning it 11-3.

The English veteran regrouped in the third, but the American left-hander brushed back the challenge by winning the game 11-9 to earn a trip to the semi-finals.

Commenting both on her victory and the incredible roar that erupted in the Vanderbilt Hall from the vocal and supportive crowd, Sobhy added: "This is incredible. The crowd was amazing - their support gives me that second and third extra push. This is best place in the world to play."

The highest ranking American ever on the PSA World Tour, the Long Island native reached her highest world ranking of eight this month. With this victory, Sobhy also is assured of the best American finish ever in a PSA World Series event. "This may be the single greatest day in American squash history," said tournament promoter John Nimick, himself a former high-ranking professional player.

In Wednesday's semi-final, Sobhy will face the tournament's eighth seed, Nouran Gohar. The 18-year-old Egyptian registered her own upset in the afternoon's first match when she defeated the current world No.1 Laura Massaro by two points in the fifth game.

Massaro, who had secured the top ranking spot at year-end by claiming two titles and a runner up finish in the last three PSA World Series events of 2015, took the early lead with a 12-10 first game win. The reigning World Junior Champion responded by pounding the ball to the back of the court to win the second game 11-9 and even the match. The fearless teenager continued to go toe-to-toe with her 32-year-old opponent to claim a ToC semi-final berth by winning the last two games 11-8,11-9.

"I am so, so, so happy," said a wide-smiling Gohar after the match. "To beat the world No.1 is just incredible." As with her semi-final opponent, Gohar was buoyed by the crowd. "This is my first time playing here in Grand Central, and it is now my favourite. The crowd just gives me so much energy."

Gohar also received a confidence boost from being coached during the match by former world No.1 and three-time ToC champion Amr Shabana. "When I was getting tired towards the end, he just said 'Just go and play. You do what you think you need to. You do it'." And Gohar did.