Home Quartet Set Up Egyptian Open Finals In Cairo

Egyptian rivals Nour El Sherbini and Nouran Gohar, Mostafa Asal and Ali Farag will fight it out for the first ever Diamond-level titles on the PSA Squash Tour after an exciting semi-finals night at the 2024 CIB Egyptian Open.

On a balmy evening at Club O West in Cairo, world No.1 El Sherbini came from behind in a classic against compatriot Hania El Hammamy; Gohar recorded a 29th successive win to beat tournament surprise package Nada Abbas; Farag avenged his world championship defeat to Diego Elias; and Asal eased past Marwan ElShorbagy.

In the match of the tournament, throughout which momentum swung one way and the next, El Sherbini came through an epic 86-minute encounter against her fellow Egyptian to celebrate the 500th Tour match of her career in the perfect way.

The seven-time world champion made a slow and passive start against El Hammamy and lost the first game 6-11, but fired back to lead with 11-5 and 12-10 wins.

The world No.3 then forced a fifth game with an 11-9 win, but fell to a devastating attacking barrage from the Alexandrian in game five as El Sherbini closed out 11-7.

"It's an achievement for me to reach the final and I'm happy to win this, it was more [of a mental battle] for me. I'm happy I kept my focus to win at the end," El Sherbini said.

Facing El Sherbini in the final is old rival for the game's top ranking Nouran Gohar, with the pair set to square off for the 35th-time, and 22nd in a final.

Gohar, went up against world No.17 and tournament surprise package Abbas, who was playing in her first major semi-final, and made short work of the 24-year-old as she secured an 11-3, 11-6, 11-2 win.

Afterwards, Gohar said: "It's just a treat to be able to share this era with [Sherbini], playing these big finals with her and having historical moments."

In the men's event, both Farag and Asal progressed in straight games.

Four-time world champion Farag found himself up against former world No.1 and reigning world champion Elias, who ended Farag's bid for a fourth consecutive world championship title with a 3/0 win in the semi-finals earlier this year in Cairo.

In Cairo, however, Farag looked a cut above, with the 32-year-old's defence impregnable and attacks frequently finding their marks as he took down Elias 11-9, 11-3, 11-9.

"I can't be more grateful to be playing the sport I love in front of amazing people and against such great players, who are so skilful with the racket and move so smoothly on court," Farag said

Asal, meanwhile, took on Marwan ElShorbagy, the younger brother of his quarter-final opponent, Mohamed ElShorbagy.

Unlike that bad-tempered encounter, this match was a straightforward affair for Asal, with the world No.3 winning 11-4, 11-5, 11-1 as ElShorbagy junior struggled to overcome an injury suffered in game two.

"He's done such an amazing job this tournament and he's back to the same level he was when at world No.3. So I hope it's nothing serious and he has a speedy recovery," Asal said.