London Open: Herbert & Waller Set for All-English Final

Simon Herbert will play top seed Adrian Waller in an all-English men’s final at the London Open, while the women’s title will be decided between Alicia Mead and Malak Khafagy. 

Having beaten Emyr Evans 3-0 in a match that lasted 55 minutes and included two tie breaks yesterday, Herbert overcame a slow start to beat No.2 seed Rui Soares by the same scoreline in today’s semi-final. 

The 22-year-old lost five of the first six points but then won six on the bounce, closing out game one 11-8 in just over 10 minutes. 

Games two and three were more straightforward, on paper at least, with Herbert converting a 7-2 lead into an 11-6 win in game two, before taking game three 11-7 to book his spot in the final. 

Speaking after the match, Herbert admitted he’d had to dig in more than the scoreline would suggest. 

“I thought I started quite slow, but Rui came out playing really well, consistent with his kills, finding his areas,” he said. 

“I think it was 5-1 and I kind of just stuck in. I don’t think he really expected that from me because normally I’m just known to let things go and not stick in, but I’m really working on just digging in and today it paid off. 

“Squash is such a demanding game, and I’m physically not up to standards, so if I’m not staying focused and keeping the pressure on and digging in when I have to, I’m not going to win matches. 

“I didn’t really enjoy that one from the start, just because Rui was making me feel like I wasn’t really a squash player on there. He outplayed me, but then I dug in and figured out a way.”

Herbert will play Waller in the final, after the No.1 seed ended the impressive run of Owain Taylor in the day’s final match. 

Taylor had knocked out world junior champion Hamza Khan in the quarter-finals, but was unable to repeat the feat against the experience lefty, going down 3-1 in 52 minutes. 

Talking after his win, Waller was full of praise for the Welshman. 

“It was a good match with Owain,” he said. 

“He’s had a great week and he’s been playing really well so I knew what to expect. I played him not too long ago, albeit more of a friendly match, and I knew he was playing well before this stretch of tournaments so there was nothing to underestimate there. 

“He really got stuck in despite having the tough week and I sort of just had to battle it out in the last two games to get over the line.” 

Looking ahead to the final, Waller added: “Simon’s a good player. He’s a shot-maker so I’m going to have to be on my toes tomorrow to get to the front of the court and try and counter him someway there, but I’ll be ready for that.” 

Mead’s semi-final win over Rana Ismail in the women’s draw kept alive the chances of an English double, after Asia Harris had been forced to withdraw from her semi-final with Khafagy through injury. 

Harris had taken the first game 12-10 before the Egyptian levelled up in the second, but the 18-year-old suffered a back injury after a collision on court towards the end of game two. 

She took an injury break early in game three and tried to battle on thereafter, but was significantly limited in her movement, and eventually shook hands three points into the fourth.

Khafagy will now be eyeing a fifth title of 2023, but standing in her way is fifth seed Mead, who knocked out another Egyptian, Rana Ismail, in the second semi-final. 

Like Herbert, Mead started slowly, dropping five of the first six points, but clawed her way back into game one, taking it 12-10. 

She won the second 11-9 and grew in confidence from there, opening up an 8-2 lead in the third, which she soon converted into victory. 

Reflecting on her performance, Mead was happy with the result but hoping for a more clinical performance in the final. 

“Being completely honest, I actually wasn’t happy with how I played in that match,” she admitted. 

“I tidied up well in the third. I thought I put it together better and I was more assertive with what I was doing.  

“She was picking me off quite a lot in the first and I was quite passive, stuck behind her quite a lot, too many cross-courts flying down the middle, but I regrouped well. I fought hard again to come back and win the first and I think I had a bit more confidence as the match went on. 

“I just changed things a little bit, a few more counters into the front rather than just cross-courting onto her racket. 

“I’m really pleased to win, and I’m pleased to be in the final, I’d just like to be a bit sharper tomorrow, but I can’t be too disappointed.” 

You can watch the London Open finals live from 3pm GMT via the London Open YouTube channel. 

Results: Men’s Semi-Finals 

[4] Simon Herbert (ENG) bt [2] Rui Soares (POR) 3-0: 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 (31m) 
[1] Adrian Waller (ENG) bt Owain Taylor (WAL) 3-1: 11-7, 6-11, 11-6, 11-2 (52m) 

Results: Women’s Semi-Finals 

[4] Malak Khafagy (EGY) bt Asia Harris (ENG) 3-1: 11-13, 12-10, 11-2, 3-0 retired (59m)  
[5] Alicia Mead (ENG) bt Rana Ismail (EGY)3-0: 12-10, 11-9, 11-7 (28m)