Coll Overcomes Twice Champion ElShorbagy To Reach Windy City Semis

It took five games for No.2 seed Paul Coll to overcome two times champion Mohamed ElShorbagy on day five of the 2026 Windy City Open presented by the Walter Family at the University Club of Chicago to claim a spot in his fourth consecutive semi-final.

In a match that saw momentum swing back-and-forth, the pair were able to light up the court in front of the Chicago crowd. World No.2 Coll was able to find his form late in the first, winning nine of the next eleven points to clinch the opener 11-8. The second game started in the same way as the opener, with ElShorbagy taking a commanding 7-1 lead. However, unlike the opening game, the former world No.1 was able to hold on to the lead, winning the second 11-4.

Coll was able to bounce back and give his opponent a taste of his own medicine, winning the third 11-5. Despite taking the lead once again, the New Zealand No.1 was unable to close out the match, with ElShorbagy swinging the momentum back in his favour, winning 11-7.

The decider seemingly broke the mould of the contest. The Kiwi made short work of the fifth taking a ten-point lead, to eventually win 11-1 in six minutes.

"I am very happy, I have never felt so uncoordinated as the start of the second and the fourth," said Coll after the tie, "He used the angles amazingly and his racket speed was on top form today and I just felt so off balance.

"I wasn't seeing the ball today and he made it very awkward for me today. It was a pleasure to have another battle with him like that, and I am happy to make it through.

"Physically I am fine, today was more of a mental battle. I was just trying to stay calm, and I thought about what I had to do. I knew he was going to try and disrupt me, slow me down, speed it up, chop up the angles and I just wasn't reacting today, he played that game brilliantly, I am just happy I put a good fifth in."

Coll will face Karim Gawad in the last four. The former world No.1 was able to beat French No.1 Victor Crouin 3/1 in a 63-minute battle.

In the women's event, USA No.1 Olivia Weaver booked her spot in the semis for the first time in her career, after easing past the No.8 seed Fayrouz Aboelkheir in three straight games.

The world No.3, who has already reached three major semi-finals this season, was determined to reach another, as was able to win the tie within 26 minutes with little resistance from the Egyptian.

Weaver, who has a perfect 7-0 record against Aboelkheir, was able to continue this form, opening the tie in an impressive manner, winning 11-6. The world No.3 was able to maintain this momentum, as she eased past the 19-year-old in the second to win 11-4.

Marching into the third game, it seemed as though she already had her opponent beat, as Weaver was able to storm ahead and win the final game 11-2 in front of a supportive home crowd.

"I am very happy with that performance," Weaver admitted after the match, "I played Fayrouz last week in New York, so I knew she would be coming out here looking for revenge, and I was ready for it and up for it.

"I was feeling good, I enjoyed my day off yesterday, I got some good work in and I was able to sharpen up.

"I am very happy with how I was able to manage the match. She is incredibly dangerous if you give her the middle, so I was just trying to play my game and stay in front and I am very happy that was executed."

The US No.1 is now set to face world No.2 Amina Orfi, following her impressive victory over US No.2 Amanda Sobhy, as Weaver bids to reach her third consecutive final of 2026.