E.M. Noll Classic SF: Lee and Shenawy Down Top Two Seeds

England’s Charlie Lee and Egypt’s Seif Shenawy caused upsets on Saturday afternoon, knocking out the top two seeds to reach the E.M. Noll Classic final.

The semi-finals were played on Saturday afternoon at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia, and Lee, who reached the final of last year’s event, took on top seed Andrew Douglas as he attempted to make the same stage this time round.

The Englishman took the opening game 11-7, but then found Douglas to be too much in the second and third games, as the top seed came from behind to lead after three games. Lee fought back, though, to secure the forth game and to send the match into a decider.

The fifth and final game could have gone either way, but it was the No.3 seed that came through to secure the upset. He won it 11-4 to move through to the final of the E.M. Noll Classic for the second year in succession. He will now take on Egypt’s Seif Shenawy after the No.8 seed also took a surprise win on semi-finals day.

The Egyptian came up against No.2 seed Bernat Jaume in his last four contest on Saturday, and the pair were level after two games, with the Spaniard tying the contest by winning the second game 11-9. The Egyptian, who sits 24 places lower in the World Rankings, wrestled the momentum back in the third game though, before then clinching victory with a tie-break win in the fourth, 12-10.

The final of the E.M. Noll Classic will take place between Charlie Lee and Seif Shenawy on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia. You can keep up to date with daily updates from the tournament on the PSA Challenger Tour’s Twitter and Facebook. 

Semi-Final Results: E.M. Noll Classic
[3] Charlie Lee (ENG) bt [1] Andrew Douglas (USA) 3-2: 11-7, 6-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-4 (53m)
[8] Seif Shenawy (EGY) bt [2] Bernat Jaume (ESP) 3-1: 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 12-10 (42m)

Final Draw: To Be Played Sunday, February 5
[3] Charlie Lee (ENG) v [8] Seif Shenawy (EGY)