Orfi Downs Idol ElSherbini To Reach Maiden Platinum Semi in El Gouna

17-year-old Amina Orfi scored the breakthrough win of her career on day five of the 2025 El Gouna International Open by beating her idol and seven-time World Champion Nour ElSherbini in an intense 101-minute battle to advance to her first ever PSA Squash Tour Platinum event semi-final.

The Egyptian teenager caught her distinguished compatriot cold in the opening game as she made better use of the cooling conditions to race out to a 6-1 lead. In typical ElSherbini style, the No.2 seed came back strongly and got to within one point at 6-7. Orfi found her form again to move to 10-8 and took the first game with confidence.

ElSherbini finished the first game with some level of momentum and that continued in game two as she started to hit her targets in the front corners to stretch out Orfi and capitalise on her opponent's loose balls. Despite losing the second game 12-10, Orfi continued her barrage to the back corners and hit several devastating kills around the middle. She again found areas to attack ElSherbini, who was finding it hard to put together consistent patterns against the teenager. After another intense game, Orfi regained the lead in the business end to win 11-8, putting her just one game away from a first Platinum semi-final.

After another tiebreak game went the way of ElSherbini, we entered a crucial fifth game. There was nothing between the two as the score reached 6-6. Orfi then rolled her ankle at 7-6. Upon returning to the court, ElSherbini used that to her advantage to create a two-point lead at 9-7. Orfi clawed back to level at 9-9 and after ElSherbini received a No Let, an error from the No.2 seed sealed the milestone win for the teenager, ending a run of 39 consecutive semi-final appearances for ElSherbini in Platinum events.

"I'm in disbelief" said Orfi after her win.

"It's my third time playing Nour, the last three times she beat me and today I wanted to play my best to reach my first Platinum semi-final. I don't think that she was playing her best today but I had to take this opportunity because maybe next time we play, she will be back to her best.

"I try not to think about it [the pressure]. I try to play each point as I can. I was down 9-7 and I was slightly hurt so I just wanted to keep playing and see how it went and thankfully it was okay."

The world No.5 will now take on world No.4 Olivia Weaver for the second time this year after the American confidently defeated Belgium's Tinne Gilis in straight games.

Orfi wasn't the only Egyptian teenager in action in the quarter finals as Mohamad Zakaria made his first appearance in the final eight of a Platinum event, taking on former world No.1 Paul Coll to complete the men's quarter final line-up.

Coll used his experience to play to his strengths throughout the 62-minute contest and was tested by the 17-year-old in the first game, eventually winning it 12-10 with Zakaria showing just how dangerous he can be around the middle of the court when given half a chance.

The length and intensity of the rallies were starting to take their toll on the Egyptian youngster in the mid stages of the second game as Coll looked to be getting stronger. The New Zealander took the match by the scruff of the neck to win 11-7, 11-4 and close out the tie in straight games.

"He's playing very well. I believe that he's breaking into the top 20 after this tournament, the second youngest player ever to do it, so really well done to him," said Coll after his win.

"I felt comfortable out there, I controlled the pace quite well and I felt good. I injected the pace in when I wanted and I was happy to do that so well."

Coll will now face Mostafa Asal in the semi-finals after the world No.1's opponent Youssef Ibrahim was forced to concede the match before it began with a shoulder injury. Coll knows that he will have to perform better than their recent meeting in the Optasia Championships final a few weeks ago if he is to upset the in-form Egyptian.

"Asal gave me a hiding in London a few weeks back, so I've got to tweak a few things. He had a rest tonight so I'm sure he's enjoying that but no, he's playing very well at the moment so I have to adjust a few things and come out and give it my best shot."