Black Ball Open Semi-Finals: Gohar Downs King In Four

World No.1 Nouran Gohar is through to the final of this year’s Black Ball Squash Open after getting the better of New Zealand’s Joelle King in a high intensity four-game contest.

It was a lightning quick start for the Egyptian, as she won nine of the first 11 points, with her weight of shot into the back corners too good in the early exchanges. Gohar claimed the first game 11-5. The Kiwi fought back in the opening stages of game two though, with some high quality straight drops helping her build a 6-1 lead.

Following some contact between Gohar’s racket and her non-playing hand, King had to go off for some treatment midway through the second game. She reappeared with some tape over her left thumb to stop the bleeding, before having to same a game ball to send the second into a tie-break. The Egyptian put the ball into the tin, though, to allow King to take the game to level up the match.

There were some uncharacteristic errors from Gohar in the early part of the third game, but she was able to regroup from those to eventually come away with the game. That moved her into a 2-1 lead, and she never looked like relinquishing that. The World No.1 cruised to the fourth game, and the overall victory, to book her spot in yet another final on Tour

“Joelle played very well and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I’m very happy with the way I managed the game and changed some stuff during the match,” Gohar said.

“Having the crowd here and having the coaching back in general is very helpful. Having your coach traveling with you and helping you out gives you a big boost. Rod [Martin] is one of the best in the game, so it definitely helps.

“The last two meetings with each one of them [El Hammamy and Sobhy] were five gamers. It’s going to be very tough and I think it will be a tough match between them tonight. Amanda did a very good upset yesterday and she is going to be up for it.

“Hania is playing well too, I’m going to watch it and be ready for my match tomorrow.”

Result:
[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [4] Joelle King (NZL) 3-1: 11-5, 10-12, 11-8, 11-4 (54m)