Watanabe Shocks New World No.1 As Seeds Sidelined In Shanghai

Hania El Hammamy's perfect start to the season came to a shuddering halt in Shanghai as the world-No.1-in-waiting fell to Japanese world No.7 Satomi Watanabe in the semi-finals of the China Open.

World No.2 El Hammamy, who will rise to the top of the PSA World Rankings on Monday, was one of three high seeds who crashed out on a gripping night at the Shanghai Xian Xia Tennis Center.

Going into their match, El Hammamy boasted a brutal 7-0 record against Watanabe, with their last meeting a 3/0 victory for the Egyptian less than a month ago in the quarter-finals of the US Open.

That record looked immediately under threat, though, with Watanabe - who had endured a disappointing start to the season - finding her targets perfectly as she stormed into a 2/0 lead against a shell-shocked El Hammamy through 11-7, 11-6 wins.

El Hammamy improved in game three, matching excellent defensive and attacking work with better consistency as she dragged herself back into the match with an 11-8 game three win and looked to have righted the ship when she took the fourth 11-4.

In an epic final game, though, Watanabe was able to re-establish her sure touch from the opening bouts.

The Japan No.1 attacked from the off, targeting the front perfectly and forcing errors from El Hammamy to earn three match balls at 10-7.

El Hammamy saved one to send nerves fluttering, but Watanabe held firm, pushing El Hammamy off balance with a well-disguised attacking boast to clinch her spot in the final.

Afterwards, she said: "I still can't believe it. There's a lot I want to say, but I'm just really happy and I'm trying not to forget this feeling - like the first step you take back on court when you're a junior. Beating her gives me confidence."

Watanabe will go up against No.3 seed Amina Orfi in the final after the 18-year-old got the better of USA's No.2 seed Olivia Weaver, with Orfi qualifying for her third final in a row after a 3/0 win against the American.

The men's final will be an all-Egyptian clash between world No.25 Mohamed Abouelghar and world No.8 Youssef Ibrahim, with Abouelghar overcoming No.3 seed and world No.7 Marwan ElShorbagy and Ibrahim fighting through a brilliant five-gamer with 18-year-old Mohamad Zakaria.

There is something about the China Open that brings the best out of Abouelghar, with the 32-year-old winning the event in 2018 and finishing runner up last year. This was a continuation of that theme, with the Egyptian at his mercurial best to outclass former world No.3 ElShorbagy 3/1.

When asked why the China Open brought the best out of him, Abouelghar admitted: "I don't know why! But I feel very good playing here.

"Since the beginning of the season, I feel like I was playing well, definitely better than last season. I feel like it took me some tournaments to get to a good level but I'm getting better every tournament, and I'm happy it's all clicking here!"

Ibrahim, meanwhile, had to pair his trademark flair with real grit as he overcame a spirited Zakaria - who had defeated reigning champion Mohamed ElShorbagy in the quarter-finals - in 78 minutes of top-quality action.