El Hammamy Holds Off ElSherbini To Book ToC Final Berth

Defending champion Hania El Hammamy held off a revival from eight-time World Champion Nour ElSherbini to triumph in five games and book her place in the women's final of the Sprott Tournament of Champions presented by Crowd Street at Grand Central Terminal in New York City

World No.1 El Hammamy, who clinched her first Tournament of Champions title last year, had a 2/1 lead before ElSherbini surged back to level the match and force a decider - just like the world No.5 did when the Egyptian pair last met in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open in December.

In a tense fifth game and with El Hammamy in command with a 5-3 lead, a blood injury sustained by the 25-year-old could have halted her momentum. However, El Hammamy didn't let the break in play disrupt her rhythm, clinching the decider 11-7 to round off an 80-minute blockbuster battle.

"It was such a battle, it was really hard," said the top seed. "I'm in my own journey with how I play those battles and win even if I'm not playing my best. I don't think I played my best and that's why I'm really proud I managed to dig deep and fight. I forgot I haven't been playing like this for so long, I've been throwing myself on the floor and diving a lot and I don't think my team will be happy with this either!

"We've been talking a lot about how I should be more stable on court and try to reduce the injuries. These battles are the kind of ones where I'm more at risk at injuring myself. I'm very proud I managed to get through it and it's always tough playing against her, she's always smart. I'm very happy."

Olivia Weaver will play El Hammamy in the final, after the US No.1 eased her way into her maiden Tournament of Champions final after downing Fayrouz Aboelkheir.

Weaver, who arrived in New York off the back of winning Squash in the Land in Cleveland, was too strong for the Egyptian teenager, winning 11-7, 11-5, 11-2 to make it back-to-back Platinum-level finals. It's the first time an American has reached the final of this event since Amanda Sobhy in 2022.

There will be a new name on the men's trophy after world No.1 Mostafa Asal and world No.2 Paul Coll progressed to their first final in New York City.

Asal was too strong for his fellow Egyptian Karim Gawad, dispatching the 2017 champion in straight games.

The current World Champion played at a high intensity which Gawad couldn't handle, with the 34-year-old unable to impose himself as Asal's aggressive hitting helped him secure a 11-4, 11-3, 11-3 victory.

"Karim is such a unique player and all the respect goes to him and his team for sure. Since I was 11 years old, he took me up and I was playing with him all the time since I was a kid," said Asal post-match.

"I love Karim, he's a good friend and he is such a legend. Coming back from an injury like this to entertain us, he is such a unique player and I have to give all the credit to be a great champion. He is a legend for our game, an icon.

"I am really happy I am playing here, the atmosphere is amazing, having my team, my family and everyone, and for sure my coaches. James [Willstrop] is doing a great job, so it's one more push to lift this amazing title."

Coll is the first male New Zealander to advance to the Tournament of Champions final after he overturned a game deficit to overcome world No.3 Diego Elias 3/1.

The last time a Kiwi featured in the final of this tournament was 2003 when Carol Owens lifted the title, and Coll is now the first-ever male finalist having seen off the Peruvian.

Having seen his pressure absorbed well by Elias in the first as the 'Peruvian Puma' won the opener 11-7, Coll eventually got his rewards for wearing done Elias to win the ensuing games 11-6, 11-2, 11-8 to tee up a third title showdown of the season against Asal.