Canadian Open: Sobhy Ends Home Hope to Set Up Semi Final v Sister Sabrina

USA’s top seed Amanda Sobhy put in a near-perfect performance as she overcame last Canadian standing Hollie Naughton to reach the Canadian Women’s Open semi final, where she will face sister Sabrina Sobhy.

The World No.5 attacked the front brilliantly from the first point of an exciting tie, played in front of a partisan capacity crowd at in the stunning Allen Lambert Galleria in Brookfield Place, Toronto.

After taking the first two games 11-8, 11-7, Sobhy’s dominance was briefly threatened when 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Naughton saved two match balls to force a tie break in game three, but the American No.1 held her nerve well to finish the match with a 12-10 victory.

“The pressure was on me as the top seed and she really had nothing to lose so credit to her for coming out with a strong performance and I’m so happy to have played the end of the game really well,” Sobhy said afterwards.

Joining Sobhy in tomorrow’s semi final will be younger sister Sabrina, who will face Amanda after coming through an entertaining encounter with England’s Lucy Beecroft.

Sobhy had looked in trouble when at 1-1, she went game ball down at 10-9 in game three, but the 26-year-old dug in well to rescue the situation, eventually winning the game 13-11 and then taking the fourth 11-7 to make it through.

In the other half of the draw, USA’s Olivia Clyne will face Egypt’s Salma Hany after Clyne came back from match ball down to beat the resurgent Sivasangari Subramaniam – who yesterday secured her first Tour win after an eight-month injury layoff – in a thriller and Hany breezed past Emily Whitlock in straight games.

“Honestly, I’m a bit speechless,” Clyne said.

“When you’re 2-0 down and [there are] things going through your head, a lot of talk and a lot of chatter, and honestly I just tried to lean in to being tough and being resilient!”

The semi finals of the Canadian Women’s Open will be played tomorrow (29th March) from 19:00 (GMT-4). Watch the action live on SQUASHTV or follow the live scores here.

Results: Quarter Finals
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [5] Hollie Naughton (CAN) 3-0: 11-8, 11-7, 12-10 (35m)
[3] Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt [8] Lucy Beecroft (ENG) 3-1: 11-6, 9-11, 13-11, 11-7 (48m)
[4] Olivia Clyne (USA) bt [6] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) 3-2 8-11, 7-11, 11-6, 11-4, 13-11 (54m)
[2] Salma Hany (EGY) bt [7] Emily Whitlock (WAL) 3-0: 11-2, 11-7, 11-5 (23m)

Draw: Semi Finals – to be played 29 March
[1] Amanda Sobhy (USA) v [3] Sabrina Sobhy (USA)
[4] Olivia Clyne (USA) v [2] Salma Hany (EGY)