Improving El Sherbini Outguns Gilis

3 September 2024

A much-improved World No.1 Nour El Sherbini made short work of Belgian No.6 seed Tinne Gilis as the top seed cruised through to the last four of the CIB Egyptian Open.

El Sherbini, who struggled badly in her third-round clash with 17-year-old Amina Orfi, coming back from 0-2 down to win, looked significantly better tonight.

In an entertaining opening game, ‘the Warrior Princess’ struck a number of winners from mid-court.

Gilis kept pace with El Sherbini for much of the opener, before the Egyptian pulled away from 8-8 to 11-8.

Game two was a different story entirely. El Sherbini – much to the bemusement of wowed commentator Johnny Williams – hit cross-court winner after cross-court winner as she blew Gilis away 11-1.

After receiving physio treatment after game two, Gilis posed more of threat to El Sherbini, but could not find a way past her determined opponent, who finished the match in straight games with an 11-7 win.

“I’ve been playing for a long time and everyone knows I’m a slow starter. I took some time at the beginning but that’s the type of squash I want to be playing. The second game was my best; I always want to play like this and go for the shots. Luckily, they were working today,” El Sherbini said.

“It’s definitely [an exciting time for squash]. It’s always good to put our courts in a different venue and I’m sure if you come in a few years you’ll see a lot of good-looking new buildings around.

“It’s getting closer to [El Sherbini’s hometown] Alexandria, too!”

On her next opponent Hania El Hammamy, she said: “Hania winning in three says a lot. It’s always a battle against her. She’s in good form, the first tournament of the season and a semi-final between us. It’s definitely going to be a good match!”

Result: CIB Egyptian Open Women’s Quarter-Final

[1] Nour ElSherbini (EGY) bt [6] Tinne Gilis (BEL) 3-0: 11-8, 11-1, 11-7 (28m)

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