El Sherbini Crushes Massaro, But Matthew Denies All-Egyptian Chicago Finals

Nour El Sherbini continued her rampage through the Guggenheim Partners & Equitrust Life Insurance Company Windy City Open with a semi-final upset over world No.1 Laura Massaro - but England's Nick Matthew stood in the way of two all-Egyptian finals in the PSA World Series event at the University Club of Chicago by defeating third seed Omar Mosaad.

In the women's draw, 20-year-old El Sherbini followed up her impressive 3/0 quarter-final win over Nicol David with a master-class performance to beat England's pre-tournament favourite Massaro, also in straight games.

El Sherbini played with unrestricted attacking flair throughout the match and underlined her position as a genuine top class contender by overturning a 2-7 deficit in the third game to take the match 11-7, 11-9, 11-9.

"I have been struggling with flu so I really did not expect to reach the final but I think I played perfect today," said El Sherbini, now in her 12th Tour final.

"Because I was struggling with my breathing I was going for every shot and thankfully they were going in. Normally when I play Laura it is a tough five-game match so to win 3/0 is an achievement that I'm definitely proud of."

El Sherbini will face compatriot and defending women's champion Raneem El Welily in the women's final.

After stuttering through the early rounds of the tournament Welily put in a highly polished and focused performance to overcome Camille Serme of France 3/0.

"I tried to stay relaxed and play to my game plan and I think I focused well and managed not to get loose and play too many shots down the middle," said El Welily, now with 27 Tour finals to her credit.

"I'm very happy to be into the final again here in Chicago. I enjoy this tournament and it brings the best out of me and it is great that it is an all-Egyptian final and I'm looking forward to playing Nour.

"She's in top form and played really well today so it should be a very good match tomorrow."

In the men's draw perennial foes Nick Matthew, the defending champion, and Mohamed Elshorbagy, the man Matthew beat to glory 12 months ago, will lock horns for championship bragging rights once again - just weeks after contesting the Tournament of Champions final.

Elshorbagy, the world No.1 from Alexandria, overcame the challenge of Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez, the man who knocked his younger brother Marwan Elshorbagy out in the quarter-finals, in straight-games to reach the 33rd PSA World Tour final of his career.

"Miguel has been playing very well in this tournament and especially against my brother yesterday but I have raised my game match after match and played some of my best to beat him today," said Elshorbagy.

"He was playing strong at the end of the second and third as well so I'm happy to have gone through in three games and be back in the final.

"I've never won this tournament so it would be nice to get my name on that trophy and I can't wait to come back and play on this stage tomorrow."

35-year-old Matthew prevented an Egyptian clean sweep by defeating World Championship runner-up Omar Mosaad in their first Tour meeting since Matthew lost to the powerful world No.4 last October.

"I lost to him in US Open and that was the first time he beat me and it was a little bit on my mind today," said Matthew, who has now raised his impressive Tour final tally to 71.

"But I'm a different player than I was before Christmas so I wanted to carry on making that statement and prove it. He's improved so much and I had to be very proactive and keep the ball away from his danger weapons so I'm happy to beat him.

"Mohamed and I had a great final in New York and I beat him here in the final last year so I'm sure he's going to want to prove a point. He's the world No.1 for a reason but I believe that on my day in front of this crowd and with support, anything can happen."